Kishore Mahbubani
Awards & Honours
4
Awards Won
5
Honours
3
Rankings
2
Covers
2
Records
Kishore Mahbubani's career is marked by rare achievements. He is one of the few non-Westerners to have presided over the UN Security Council, and his two terms as Singapore's UN ambassador gave him a front-row seat to some of the most consequential events in modern history. His books have become essential reading for anyone trying to understand the shift of global power to Asia, with Has China Won? sparking intense debate in Washington and Beijing. His election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019 placed him among the world's leading intellectuals, and his honorary doctorates from institutions across Asia and Europe reflect the global reach of his ideas.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Public Administration Medal (Silver)
Awarded for distinguished service in public administration.
Order of Pahlavi
Received during his diplomatic tenure, reflecting engagement with Middle Eastern affairs.
Honorary Doctorate
Recognizing contributions to public policy and international relations.
Election to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Prestigious honor recognizing intellectual contributions.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Recognizing work in arts and culture within international relations.
Rankings & Lists
Top 100 Global Thinkers
Top 100 Global Thinkers
Best Books of the Year
Magazine Covers
Foreign Affairs
Spring 2021
The Future of Asia
Bloomberg Markets
May 2026
The End of Western Hegemony
Records & Feats
First non-Westerner to preside over the UN Security Council in the 21st century
Presided over the UNSC from January 2001 to December 2002, including sessions after 9/11.
Two separate terms as Singapore's Permanent Representative to the UN
Served from 1984-1989 and 1998-2004, a rare distinction in Singapore's diplomatic history.