Hui Wang Awarded Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize for Moral and Historical Sciences

Chinese history and literature expert Hui Wang, Elizabeth and J. Richardson Dilworth Member (2023–24) in the School of Historical Studies, has been awarded the 2026 Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize for Moral and Historical Sciences in the field of Social Sciences by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei of Italy. The Antonio Feltrinelli Prizes are highly prestigious and are considered to be "the Italian equivalent of the Nobel Prizes."

Though Wang is widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential contemporary thinkers, he received the award specifically for his "fundamental contribution" to the history of Chinese modernity and for his "critical analysis" of globalization, according to the citation.

Scholars regard Wang’s contributions as foundational texts in debates surrounding globalization, state power, and contemporary social movements. Grounded in the concept of a trans-systemic society, his work has shaped broader discussions about social inequality, the new world order, and the changing role of the state in the twenty-first century. Wang’s research on the "depoliticization" of modern society and on the relationship between state machinery and market operation has also been used as a framework for understanding transformations of state sovereignty in the age of globalization.

Wang described receiving the award as "both unexpected and an honor." He continued: "My research has always revolved around the questions of 'What is China?' and 'What is Chinese modernity?', with my research on the pre-twentieth century concentrated in my four-volume work, The Rise of Modern Chinese Thought, the English version of which was published by Harvard University Press in 2023. During my time at IAS, I was retracing this path in my research on twentieth-century China. My reading and research during my stay at IAS, especially discussions with colleagues, has given me many new insights and the conversations have been continuing even now. I have already published part of the research in Chinese, and its English version will be published in the near future."

The Antonio Feltrinelli Prizes are awarded annually by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei of Italy, with the goal of presenting national and international prizes to distinguished scholars in the various fields of science and the arts.

Read more on the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei website.