SHEIKH ZAYED BOOK AWARD

SHEIKH ZAYED BOOK AWARD

Subject: Current Events

Context: Prominent German philosopher JuergenHabermas had turned down the SheikhZayed Book Award over its ties “with the existing political system” in the UAE, a hereditarily ruled country long criticised for its suppression of dissent.

Concept:

• The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is a literary award begun in the UAE.
• The award is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE when the federation of seven sheikhdoms became a country in 1971.
• While describing itself as an “independent” initiative, the prize is administered by Abu Dhabi culture and tourism authorities.
• The “Cultural Person of the Year” is the premier category, it includes an award of one million Dirhams (around $300,000) while the other categories receive around $200,000 each.

About Author

• Habermas was named the Cultural Personality of the Year, a distinction that carries a cash prize of 1 million dirhams.
• Habermas’ influential writings on human rights, morality and democracy, among other topics, have stirred debate in Germany and beyond.