According to Tsinghua News Network, on June 8, the Italian National Academy of Sciences of Lince announced the list of winners for the 2026 "Felltrinelli Prize". Wang Hui, a senior professor in the humanities and social sciences at Tsinghua University and the director of the Institute of Higher Humanities and Social Sciences, won the "International Award in Social Sciences" (in the fields of history and moral sciences).
Wang Hui
In 1942, the Fellini Prize was established by the entrepreneur and artist Antonio Fellini. It aims to recognize outstanding individuals from Italy and around the world who have made significant contributions in the fields of science and art. It is one of Italy’s highest-level scientific and cultural honors, divided into two categories: domestic Italian prizes and international prizes. The international prizes cover five disciplines: history and moral sciences, physics, mathematics, and natural sciences; humanities; arts; and medicine. Wang Hui is the first Asian scholar to receive this award since its establishment. In 2025, the winner in the field of history and moral sciences will be the German scholar Jürgen Habermas (International Prize for Philosophy). Previous recipients have included Italian writer Italo Calvino (Literary Award in 1972) and German philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer (Philosophy Award in 1995).
Wang Hui was awarded for his understanding of the historical roots of Chinese modernity, as well as his fundamental contributions in critically analyzing the process of globalization. The jury considered Wang Hui to be one of the most influential thinkers in the world today. His theoretical explanations based on the concept of "transdisciplinary societies" have sparked widespread discussions worldwide regarding the roles of states, markets, and social movements in the 21st century. Wang Hui's research focuses on the phenomenon of "de-politicization" in contemporary society, as well as the synergistic relationship between state institutions and market dynamics, providing a key perspective for understanding the evolution of sovereignty in the era of globalization. His academic works have been translated into more than ten languages, including Italian (such as Il nuovo ordine cinese), making them important references for understanding the political and socio-economic dynamics of a multi-polar world.
This year’s award ceremony will be held on June 12 at the headquarters of the National Academy of Sciences in Lince, Italy. Italian President Sergio Mattarella will attend the ceremony.
