Bernard L. Schwartz

Asia Society

New York City

The Asia Society is an international organization dedicated to strengthening relationships and deepening understanding among the peoples of Asia and the United States. Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III, the Society reaches audiences around the world through its headquarters in New York and centers in Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Hong Kong, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai and Shanghai.

A nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization, the Society provides a forum for building awareness of the more than thirty countries broadly defined as the Asia-Pacific region — the area from Japan to Iran, and from Central Asia to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Through art exhibitions and performances, films, lectures, seminars and conferences, publications and assistance to the media, and materials and programs for students and teachers, the Asia Society presents the uniqueness and diversity of Asia.

Bernard L. Schwartz Resident Fellows Program

The Bernard Schwartz Resident Fellows Program seeks to help meet the large and growing need for a nuanced public dialogue on important issues related to the growing importance of Asia in the world and global economy by selecting Fellows to serve in residence at the Asia Society headquarters in New York or in its Washington Center.

- Bernard L. Schwartz with current Fellow Dr. Hassan Abbas,
Asia Society President and CEO Vishakha N. Desai and
Asia Society Executive Vice President Jamie Metzl

Schwartz Fellows are selected from among the most respected leaders from Asia and the U.S., and serve up to twelve month terms in residence. At least one Fellow is selected from the Asia-Pacific region, and at least one from the United States. Candidates are drawn from a variety of fields, including former government officials, academics, business leaders, and journalists. The defining qualification for Schwartz Fellows is a record of distinction and a commitment to engaging the broader public in better understanding Asia.

Bernard L. Schwartz Book Award

In 2009, Bernard Schwartz and the Asia Society established the first annual Bernard Schwartz Book Award. This major international award recognizes nonfiction books that provide outstanding contributions to the understanding of contemporary Asia or U.S.-Asia relations. In keeping with the Asia Society's mission, the award is designed to further public awareness of the changes taking place in Asia and the implications for the wider world, and to raise the profile of authors making a meaningful contribution to this dialogue.

Books are evaluated based on their ability to:

Provide special insights and new perspectives into understanding contemporary Asia or US-Asia relations
Describe and explain changes taking place in Asia or in US-Asia relations and the implications for the wider world to a general audience
Bring forth ideas that make a significant impact on policy dialogues relating to the region

An independent jury comprised of experts in the fields of policy, media, academia, cultural affairs, and business selects the winner, who receives a $20,000 prize and is honored at a special event at the Asia Society.

The winner of the 2009 Bernard Schwartz Book Award was Duncan McCargo's Tearing Apart the Land: Islam and Legitimacy in Southern Thailand.

October 20, 2010

James C. Scott's 'The Art of Not Being Governed' Wins Asia Society's 2010 Bernard Schwartz Book Award

- Bernard Schwartz With 2010 Book Award Winner James C. Scott

August 27, 2010

Asia Society Announces Five Finalists for 2010 Bernard Schwartz Book Award

September 18, 2009

Asia Society Announces Winner of 2009 Asia Society Bernard Schwartz Book Award