The Nobel Prize: historical and sociocultural perspectives
- Submission status
- Open
- Submission deadline
The Nobel Prize offers a unique lens through which to explore historical and sociocultural dynamics. Established in 1901 according to Alfred Nobel’s will, for “the greatest benefit to humankind”, the prize has evolved beyond its original scientific and literary remit to become a global symbol of intellectual prestige and moral authority. Its selection processes, controversies, and shifting priorities reflect broader societal values, such as the politics of recognition, the construction of cultural capital, and the global circulation of knowledge.
This Collection invites interdisciplinary scholarship that situates the Nobel Prize within broader historical and cultural frameworks. We welcome contributions that explore its evolution as an institution, its role in shaping intellectual and political agendas, and its symbolic power in global contexts.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Historical Perspectives: The origins and evolution of the Nobel Prize; shifting criteria and disciplinary boundaries; nominees.
- Gender and Diversity: Patterns of inclusion and exclusion; gender bias and representation among laureates.
- Narratives and Rhetoric: Nobel lectures as cultural texts; language, persuasion, and identity in prize discourse.
- Political, Global and Postcolonial Dimensions: The Nobel Prize in relation to geopolitics, colonial legacies, and cultural diplomacy.
- Sociology of Literature, Canon Formation and Translation: Organizational processes behind award nominations and selections; the Nobel Prize in Literature as a global gatekeeper for literary prestige; the “Nobel Effect” on book sales and international dissemination.
- Representation and Cultural Impact: Media representations of laureates; the Nobel Prize as a symbol in literature, art, and public discourse.
We particularly encourage work that bridges disciplines and interrogates the politics of prestige.
