The Committee administers the Balakian Prize, awarded to an exceptional first monograph in comparative literary studies, written by an author under 40 years of age.
The Committee is made up of a Chair, nominated by the ICLA President, and 2 other members appointed by the Chair in consultation with the ICLA President, aiming at a balance of scientific and linguistic expertise, as well as geo-cultural and gender balance. They form the Jury for the Prize, and can call on other experts to assess books in languages or areas that require additional specific expertise.
The composition of the committee for the current term (2025-28) is as follows:
Professor Wen-Chin Ouyang (Chair) is Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature at SOAS, University of London. She is Fellow of the British Academy and Academician of Academia Sinica. A native speaker of Arabic and Chinese, she has been working towards Arabic-Chinese comparative literary and cultural studies, including Silk and Road Studies.
The other members of the committee will be announced soon.
Please visit the Balakian Prize page for more information on the Prize, including eligibility, deadlines and how to submit.