British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding

The British Academy Book Prize, worth £25,000, is awarded annually for a non-fiction book that promotes global cultural understanding.

The British Academy’s £25,000 non-fiction book prize is awarded annually for a book that contributes to public understanding of world cultures. It is designed to illuminate the interconnections and divisions that shape cultural identity worldwide.

Nominations for the British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding are currently closed. Nominations will open again in January 2022.

Winner announcement for the 2021 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding

Jury Chair, Professor Patrick Wright FBA, announces the 2021 winner of the British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding.

Key dates 2021

Launch and opening of the 2021 Prize for nominations	19 January
Event with Hazel Carby to mark the opening of the cycle	26 January
Closing of nomination period	31 March
Shortlist announcement	7 September
Shortlist online event	13 October
Winner announcement	26 October

The British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding shortlist event

Meet the authors shortlisted for the 2021 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding at this special event organised in partnership with the London Review Bookshop.

Extracts from the 2021 shortlist

"Waves Across the South: A New History of Revolution and Empire" by Professor Sujit Sivasundaram

Professor Sujit Sivasundaram explores how indigenous Asian regimes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries actively responded to and withstood European colonial advances.

"Islands of Abandonment: Life in the Post-Human Landscape" by Cal Flyn

Author and journalist Cal Flyn interrogates our "self-appointed role as steward of the planet".

"Neither Settler Nor Native: The Making and Unmaking of Permanent Minorities" by Professor Mahmood Mamdani FBA

In this extract from "Neither Settler Nor Native", Professor Mahmood Mamdani FBA explores the impact of colonialism on Sudan.

"Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Today" by Professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

Professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. describes how writing about James Baldwin has helped him to make sense of what is happening in America.

The jury

Madawi Al-Rasheed FBA

Writer and academic, Visiting Professor at the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics

Catherine Hall FBA

Professor Emerita of Modern British Social and Cultural History at University College London

Fatima Manji

Channel 4 News broadcaster and journalist

Philippe Sands QC FRSL

Lawyer, academic and writer, University College London and Matrix Chambers

Patrick Wright FBA

Writer and broadcaster, Professor of Literature and Visual and Material Culture at King’s College London

Coverage of the prize

Learn more about the winning author, Sujit Sivasundaram and his prize-winning book, Waves Across the South: A New History of Revolution and Empire.

In this interview with The World Today (Chatham House) prize-winning author, Sujit Sivasundaram, talks to Mariana Vieira about the stories behind today’s culture wars and environmental crisis.

Read an extract on Literary Hub from the 2021 British Academy Book Prize winner, Waves Across the South: A New History of Revolution and Empire by Sujit Sivasundaram.

Watch this inspiring interview with Sujit Sivasundaram, winner of the ninth British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, in conversation with Tharusha Kumarasinghe for Newsfirst Sri Lanka.

Listen to this year’s four shortlisted authors in conversation with Professor Rana Mitter FBA on BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking.

Chair of the Book Prize jury, Patrick Wright FBA, discusses the 2021 shortlist with Sophie Roell, Editor of Five Books.

Join literary blogger, Eric Karl Anderson, the Lonesome Reader, as he explores the non-fiction shortlist for the 2021 British Academy Book Prize.

History of the prize

The Nayef Al Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding was created by the Academy in partnership with Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan with the aim of establishing it as a significant force in global publishing and prizegiving. Across the last eight years, these objectives have been most successfully accomplished, and there is now a high level of international awareness of the prize and a distinguished array of shortlisted authors and eventual winners. Their work explores many different aspects of global cultural understanding and combines the highest academic quality with a determined resolve to reach the broadest possible public audience.

Given the success of the prize and as we reach the end of the very generous period of seed-funding we received, Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan is keen to explore new opportunities with the Academy to develop other ventures for a similar effect for philosophy.

We will honour his generosity and foresight by continuing to award what will now be called the British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding from 2021 onwards.