George L. Mosse Prize
The American Historical Association awards the George L. Mosse Prize annually for an outstanding major work of extraordinary scholarly distinction, creativity, and originality in the intellectual and cultural history of Europe since 1500. This prize was established with funds donated by former students, colleagues, and friends of Dr. Mosse. The general rules for submission are:
- Only books of a high scholarly distinction should be submitted. Research accuracy, originality, and literary merit are important selection factors.
- Books with a copyright of 2017 are eligible for the 2018 award.
- Nominators must complete an online prize submission form for each book submitted.
- One copy of each entry must be sent to each committee member and clearly labeled “Mosse Prize Entry.” Print copies preferred unless otherwise indicated. If only e-copy is available, please contact review committee members beforehand to arrange submission format.
Please Note: Entries must be received by May 15, 2018, to be eligible for the 2018 competition. Entries will not be returned. Recipients will be announced on the AHA website in October 2018 and recognized during a ceremony at the January 2019 AHA annual meeting in Chicago.
For questions, please contact the Prize Administrator.
Contact Information for Committee Members
Send one copy to each committee member and complete the prize submission form (above).
2017 Mosse Prize
James T. Kloppenberg, Harvard Univ.
Toward Democracy: The Struggle for Self-Rule in European and American Thought (Oxford Univ. Press)
James T. Kloppenberg recounts the tribulations of Western democracy from the 16th through the 19th centuries, highlighting its ethical and religious roots. Using a vast array of transatlantic sources and in engaging prose, he reveals both the precariousness and the vitality of democracy as it confronted an array of social and intellectual challenges. Toward Democracy is a buoyant yet cautionary tale that will appeal to specialists and laypeople alike.