This prize, awarded for the first time, honours a book that takes an analytical look at the epochal upheaval in world politics, the processes of system change and the major lines of political development since 1989. Spohr, who teaches at the London School of Economics and Johns Hopkins University in Washington, succeeds in building a bridge between political science and contemporary historical research. Based on archival sources, interviews with contemporary witnesses and a masterful evaluation of the research literature, she shows the consequences of the reorganisation after 1989 for the international system and how today's structural problems can be traced back to decisions, omissions and misjudgements made at the time. The author manages to combine a captivating style of presentation with a systematic interest in knowledge. "Wendezeit" explains the actions of political decision-makers in an institutional context and sheds light on their rational and emotional motivations. In this way, the book not only helps us to better understand the recent past, but also contributes to a better political science understanding of the present.

The DGfP Book Prize jury selected this title from 18 submissions. Monographs published in 2018 or 2019 by a publisher active on the German book market were eligible for nomination. The jury assessed the submissions according to whether they represent an outstanding contribution to the advancement of knowledge in political science and are of interest to more than one area of political science. Another decisive factor was the extent to which the book contributes to the transfer of political science knowledge to politics and society, thereby increasing the visibility of the discipline in the public eye. The award ceremony will take place at a separate event in autumn 2020.