The Peace History Society (PHS) seeks nominations for the following prizes. All submissions are due May 15, 2025. 

Founded in 1964, the PHS aims to encourage and coordinate national and international scholarly work to explore and articulate the conditions and causes of peace and war, and to communicate the findings of scholarly work to the public. 

For more information about the prizes and the past winners, please visit our website: peacehistorysociety.org  

Scott Bills Memorial Prize in Peace History

The Peace History Society invites nominations (including self-nominations) for the Scott Bills Memorial Prize for a first book or a dissertation in English on a topic related to peace history published in 2023 or 2024. For books with different electronic and print publication dates, please submit based on the date the book appears in print. although books appearing only in electronic format are also eligible. The Prize, awarded biennially, carries a cash award of $500.

Please send a brief nomination letter (listing the author’s name, email address, book title, and publication information) to [email protected] with “Scott Bills Memorial Prize entry” in the email subject line. Upon receipt, you will receive a confirmation email containing the committee members’ mailing addresses. Please then send a copy of the nominated book to each member. Nominees who do not send a copy of their submission to all members of the prize committee may be deemed ineligible for the award. The committee’s strong preference is for books to be submitted in print format, but electronic submissions will be accepted. For books submitted electronically, please send it to [email protected] with “Scott Bills Memorial Prize e-book submission” in the email subject line.

The committee members for the 2023-24 cycle are as follows: 

• Michaelle Tusan (Chair)
• Roger Peace
• Wendy Chmielewski

Elise M. Boulding Prize in Peace History

The Peace History Society invites nominations (including self-nominations) for the Elise Boulding Prize in Peace History for an outstanding English-language nonfiction book by a single author in the field of Peace History published in 2023 or 2024. For books with different electronic and print publication dates, please submit based on the date the book appears in print, although books appearing only in electronic format are also eligible. First books and dissertations are not eligible. This prize, awarded biennially, carries a cash award of $500.

Please send a brief nomination letter (listing the author’s name, email address, book title, and publication information) to [email protected] with “Elise M. Boulding Prize entry” in the email subject line. Upon receipt, you will receive a confirmation email containing the committee members’ mailing addresses. Please then send a copy of the nominated book to each member. Nominees who do not send a copy of their submission to all members of the prize committee may be deemed ineligible for the award. The committee’s strong preference is for books to be submitted in print format, but electronic submissions will be accepted. For books submitted electronically, please send it to [email protected] with “Elise M. Boulding Prize e-book submission” in the email subject line.

The committee members for the 2023-24 cycle are as follows: 

• Victoria Wolcott (Chair)
• Tracy K’Meyer
• Deborah Buffton

Peace History Society Edited Book Prize

The Peace History Society invites nominations (including self-nominations) for an outstanding English-language edited book by one or more editors in the field of peace history, or peace studies or other disciplines with significant historical content. Eligible books include:

(1) edited/annotated editions of letters, diaries, documents, and other primary sources; (2) edited volumes comprised of individual chapters by scholars or others; and (3) edited volumes comprised of a combination of primary and secondary sources.

The two most important criteria in assessing nominations are (1) the intellectual work and contributions of the editor(s), including framing, contextualizing, assembling, editing, and/or annotating; and (2) the significance of the book in advancing new perspectives and/or filling significant gaps in the literature. The committee will consider first editions of books only. Special issues of journals are not eligible for consideration. Volumes edited by committee members or that contain articles by committee members are ineligible.

This prize is awarded biennially (every 2 years). The Prize carries a commemorative plaque and the opportunity for a book forum in Peace & Change, the journal of the Peace History Society. The inaugural prize (to be awarded in 2025) will consider edited volumes published in 2023 or 2024.

Please send a brief nomination letter (listing the author’s name, email address, book title, and publication information) to [email protected] with “Peace History Society Edited Book Prize entry” in the email subject line. Upon receipt, you will receive a confirmation email containing the committee members’ mailing addresses. Please then send a copy of the nominated book to each member. Nominees who do not send a copy of their submission to all members of the prize committee may be deemed ineligible for the award. The committee’s strong preference is for books to be submitted in print format, but electronic submissions will be accepted. For books submitted electronically, please send it to [email protected] with “Peace History Society Edited Book Prize e-book submission” in the email subject line.

The committee members for the 2023-24 cycle are as follows: 

• Scott Bennett (Chair)
• Brian Mueller
• Leilah Danielson

DeBenedetti Prize in Peace History

The Peace History Society invites nominations (including self-nominations) for the DeBenedetti Prize in Peace History for an English language journal article, book chapter, or book introduction on peace history published in 2023 or 2024. For publications with different electronic and print publication dates, please submit based on the date the article or book chapter or introduction appears in print, although works appearing only in electronic format are also eligible. The prize, awarded biennially, carries a cash award of $500.

Articles may focus on the history of peace movements, the response of individuals to peace and war issues, the relationship between peace and other reform movements, gender issues in warfare and peacemaking, comparative analyses, and quantitative studies.

All nominations for the DeBenedetti Prize must be made electronically. Please send a brief nomination email (listing the author's name, email address, and full citation for the publication) along with a PDF attachment of the submission to [email protected]. Nominees who do not send a copy of their submission may be deemed ineligible for the award. Please indicate “DeBenedetti Prize submission” in the email subject line.

The committee members for the 2023-24 cycle are as follows: 

• Lauren Jannette (Chair)
• Harvey Strum
• Sakiko Kaiga
• Ronald Musto