Another accolade for author and senior researcher PhD Timo R. Stewart, who has been chosen as the Social Scientist of 2026 by the Social Science Professionals Union. This is the second recognition to Stewart’s contribution within political and social sciences in just a few weeks.
The Chair of the Union Hanna Sauli has motivated the choice as follows: “Stewart has provided extensive background to the situation in the Middle East and prompted a broad social conversation. The combination of academic analysis and social influence makes him the best bearer of the honorary title of best social scientist of the year”.
In Palestine and Israel. A History in Maps two-times Finlandia nominee and PhD Timo Stewart uses a simple yet efficient structure to tackle a complex issue: over the course of the book, he analyzes 25 maps of the geographical area that encompasses Palestine and Israel, encouraging a critical approach to maps and historiography.
Who drew these maps, and with what purpose? Maps are a tool to understand the world, but also a tool of political power and history-making: our ideas of the world and national borders are far from being eternal and set in stone, and exploring their changes and development results in an unusual yet engaging way to approach history with more than skin-deep knowledge. The takeaway is an increased critical eye that can be turned to the different ways conflicts and politics shape the world we live in, in the Middle East and everywhere. In Finland, the book is published by Gummerus.
Warm congratulations to the author, and don’t miss out on this title!