Historian Karl Schlögel Awarded German Book Trade Peace Prize for Work on Ukraine and Eastern Europe
Renowned historian Karl Schlögel has been awarded the 2024 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for his decades of scholarship on Eastern Europe, particularly his warnings about Russian expansionism and his steadfast support for Ukraine, an honor that sparked debate given his advocacy for military aid.
Schlögel recently returned from a visit to Lviv, Ukraine, where he experienced firsthand the reality of ongoing Russian attacks, spending hours in an air-raid shelter. “They should go there and see it for themselves,” he urged, adding, “They should see what it means for people there, that Europe is unable to stop the daily and nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities,” in a recent interview. His work, including books like “Ukraine: A Nation on the Borderland” (2018), has consistently highlighted the geopolitical importance of the region and the dangers of ignoring its history. The award, which includes €25,000, recognizes individuals who have contributed to the realization of peace through literature, science, or art.
The jury acknowledged Schlögel’s work “as an archaeologist of modernity and a seismograph of social change,” but the decision to honor someone advocating for military support of Ukraine prompted public discussion. Schlögel himself anticipates a growing divide within Europe regarding the duration of support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion. He has long maintained that “without a free Ukraine, there can be no peace in Europe,” a sentiment echoed by many as the conflict continues to reshape the continent’s security landscape. His early observations of Soviet policies, dating back to travels in 1966, established him as a leading voice on the region, and his analysis of Putin’s actions – stating “With Putin, you have to be prepared for anything” – proved prescient following the 2014 annexation of Crimea. For more on the ongoing conflict, see reporting from the Council on Foreign Relations.
Schlögel will formally accept the prize on October 19 at St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt, at the conclusion of the Frankfurt Book Fair, reiterating his commitment to a free and independent Ukraine. Previous recipients of the award include Anne Applebaum and Salman Rushdie, demonstrating the prize’s recognition of those speaking out against authoritarianism and for freedom of expression. The award comes at a time when global attention is increasingly focused on the future of Ukraine and the broader implications for European security, as detailed in Headlinez News’ recent report on European security.
