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 2009 Fellows
Simon S.C. Tay and Nobuyoshi Sakajiri.

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 Schwartz Book Award

Established in 2009, the Bernard Schwartz Book Award is a major international award recognizing nonfiction books that provide outstanding contributions to the understanding of contemporary Asia or US-Asia relations. Books will be 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 select the winner.