Stefan Borg awarded the 2026 Hugo Raab Prize

Stefan Borg, Associate Professor of Political Science at the Swedish Defence University, has been awarded the 2026 Hugo Raab Prize for his book The Return of the Common Good: The Postliberal Project Left and Right.

“I am delighted that my book has been awarded the Hugo Raab Prize. Receiving this prize at a university with so many talented and inspiring colleagues means an enormous amount to me”, says Stefan Borg.

In his book The Return of the Common Good: The Postliberal Project Left and Right, Borg reconstructs postliberalism, a school of political thought that challenges liberalism’s strong emphasis on individual freedom and autonomy.

Examining the critique of liberalism

In the book, which sits at the intersection of intellectual history and political theory, Borg traces the emergence of postliberalism and examines the ideas that both unite and divide its proponents.

“I also explore how postliberal ideas manifest themselves within and in relation to fields such as theology, law, international relations and gender studies”, says Stefan Borg.

A central element of the postliberal critique is that liberalism’s focus on individual freedom and autonomy risks weakening the bonds that hold society together.

“According to postliberals, the pursuit of greater individual freedom has come at the expense of attachment, connection, and community”, says Stefan Borg.

Postliberalism encompasses ideas from both the political right and left. Some proponents seek to strengthen local communities and civil society, while others advocate more authoritarian models of society.

“I am not convinced that postliberalism can provide us with many answers, but reflecting on its critique may help us gain a deeper understanding of the crisis of liberalism”, says Stefan Borg.

Prize citation

The book’s principal scholarly contribution lies in its systematic reconstruction of postliberalism as a coherent body of ideas. Borg skilfully brings together discussions from political theory, theology, international relations and gender theory in a clear and conceptually illuminating way, collectively demonstrating the relevance of postliberalism and its considerable influence on societal developments more broadly.

The book is, in several respects, a remarkable achievement and makes a significant contribution to the study of contemporary political theory and intellectual history through its analytical rigour, comprehensive review of the literature and ability to bring structure to an emerging field of research.