Advancing Global History
Through Scholarship & Public Dialogue
Toynbee Prize Foundation is dedicated to understanding the world across time and borders.
Global History happens here
Named after Arnold J.Toynbee, the Toynbee Prize Foundation was chartered in 1987 “to contribute to the development of the social sciences, as defined from a broad historical view of human society and of human and social problems.” The Foundation seeks to promote scholarly engagement with global history.
FEATURED ARTICLES
From Our Library
Browse selected essays, interviews, reports, and roundtables across a wide range of historical topics.
Start here, or search the full article library to find what you’re looking for.
Mexico and the Governance of the Global Economy
Christy Thornton’s Revolution in Development: Mexico and the Governance of the Global Economy (University of California Press, 2021) places Mexico at the center of histories…
Empires and Global Cities
What role did cities play in imperial expansion and globalization? Despite massive urbanisation and a revolution in transport technologies and systems, did the modern period…
Nixon in China: Back to Bretton Woods
Often heralded as marking the start of a significant shift in the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) relationship with the world, Richard Nixon’s journey to…
Nation and Emigration in Nineteenth-Century America
In a 2006 interview, Sven Beckert lamented that in his field, nineteenth century United States history, “we still have a real dearth…
News & Events
Stay
Connected
Find upcoming events, recent announcements, and updates from the Toynbee Prize Foundation.
Explore what’s ahead and revisit highlights from past events.
Quote from our Board
“In the 21st century, the movement we know as Global History has come to define what we know about the past and the stories we tell. At its best, it has persistently challenged and inspired historians to reflect on the ‘we’ that knowledge and histories reflect and represent, and on those foundations, to imagine the new futures that the world – and the planet – need.”
— Glenda Sluga, Toynbee Prize Foundation President
LATEST ARTICLES
Recently Published
Explore the latest writing and conversations published by the Foundation.
Self-Determination and International Order: A Conversation with Bradley Simpson
The idea of self-determination belongs among the most important in modern international politics, yet its…
Winner Announcement: 2025-26 Toynbee Prize Foundation First Book Workshop
We are pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s Toynbee Prize Foundation First…
AHA 26 Roundtable Announcement
The Toynbee Prize Foundation is pleased to announce a roundtable in collaboration with the Journal…
2025 Toynbee Prize Lecture: Sunil Amrith, “Whose Planetary Consciousness?”
The 2025-26 Toynbee Prize Winner Sunil Amrith (Yale University) delivered the Toynbee Prize Lecture at…
Brazil, Portugal, and Authoritarian Development: An Interview with Melissa Teixeira
During the interwar years, intellectuals across Europe and Latin America sought alternatives to both liberal…
The Many Lives of Development Economics: An Interview with David Engerman
Development economics has lived many lives—ranging from the technocratic optimism of the postwar era to…
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? Start here for a quick overview of the Foundation, the Prize, and our work.
Find answers about our mission, community, and ways to get involved.
How did the Toynbee Prize Foundation get its name?
The Toynbee Prize Foundation is named after Arnold J. Toynbee, the influential historian and philosopher known for his global approach to understanding civilizations and historical change.
His work encouraged broad, comparative thinking across societies and time periods — an approach that continues to advance the Foundation’s mission to foster global historical scholarship and dialogue.
What topics does the foundation explore?
Toynbee explores a wide range of topics in global history, including regions, political movements, economic development, environmental history, gender and race, intellectual history, and more. To explore the full list of themes, visit our Article section where you can browse and filter content based on your interests.
Can I contribute to the Toynbee Prize Foundation?
We regularly collaborate with scholars and contributors across disciplines, regions, and career stages. Through our Editors-at-Large and broader network, the Foundation brings diverse perspectives into ongoing conversations around global history.
To learn more about contributing, visit the Get Involved page for current opportunities and application details.
What is the Toynbee Prize?
The Toynbee Prize is awarded every two years to recognize individuals whose scholarship and public contributions have significantly shaped the study of global history.
Prizewinners are selected by the Foundation in recognition of a sustained body of work and long-term impact on both scholarship and public understanding.
How does Toynbee bring scholars and ideas together?
Toynbee brings scholars and ideas together by creating connections across disciplines, institutions, career stages, and regions of the world. Through our network of contributors, Editors-at-Large, events, and collaborative initiatives, the Foundation helps create an ongoing global conversation around history.
How can I stay connected?
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on new releases, conversations, and Foundation news. You can also continue exploring the News and Events section for the latest announcements and upcoming opportunities.