Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize (in Norwegian and Swedish, Nobels fredspris) is one of the five Nobel Prizes that were instituted by Swedish arms manufacturer, inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, along with prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature. It has been awarded annually since 1901 (it has ceased to be awarded with some exceptions) «to the person who has worked more or better in favorites of the brotherhood between nations, the abolition or reduction of raised armies and the conclusion and promotion of peace agreements », according to Alfred Nobel's own will. By Nobel's will, the recipient is selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-person committee determined by the Norwegian Parliament.
This award is the only one awarded in Oslo (Norway) —the other four are awarded hours later, in Stockholm. Since 1990, the prize has been awarded annually on December 10 at Oslo City Hall—previously, the prize was awarded at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law (1947-1989), at the Norwegian Nobel Institute (1905- 1946) and in the Norwegian Parliament (1901-1904).[citation needed]
Due to its political nature, the award has been subject to various controversies throughout its history.
History
Like the other categories of the Nobel Prize, the Nobel Peace Prize dates back to Alfred Nobel's will, in which he provided that the prize be created and endowed with the proceeds of his fortune. The original Swedish text of the corresponding paragraph reads as follows:
åfver hela min återstående realiserbara förmögenhet förfares på följande sätt: Kapitalet av utredningsmänen realizeradt till säkra värdepapper skall utgöra en fond, hvars ränta årligen som Räntan delas i fem lika delar som tillfalla: [...] och en del åt den som har verkat mest eller best för folkens förbrödrande och avskaffande eller minskning av stående arméer samt bildande och spridande av fredskongresser. Prisen [...] för fredsförfäktare [utdelas] af ett utskot af fem personer som väljas af Norska Stortinget. Det är min uttryckliga vilja att vid prisutdelningarna intet afseende fästes vid någon slags nationstillhörighet sålunda att den värdigaste erhåller priset antingen han är skandinav eller ej.Alfred Nobel, November 27, 1895
All that remains of my fortune will be arranged as follows: the capital, invested in secure values by my testamentaries, will constitute a fund whose interest will be distributed every year in the form of awards among those who have worked more or better during the previous year for fraternity among nations, the abolition or reduction of existing armies and for the celebration or promotion of peace processes. The prize [...] for the defender of peace [will be granted] by a committee consisting of five persons elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that, in awarding these awards, the nationality of the candidates is not taken into consideration, but that those who receive the award are the most worthy, whether Scandinavian or not.
Award delivered in Oslo
Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded in Stockholm, the Peace Prize is awarded at the City Hall of Oslo, the capital of Norway. The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is chosen by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, made up of five people, appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. The fact that this prize is awarded in Oslo is probably due to the fact that Sweden and Norway were united during Nobel's lifetime and that foreign policy matters were decided in the Swedish parliament. Nobel himself never explained why he did not want this prize to be awarded and delivered in Sweden, like everyone else. However, he is supposed to have been of the opinion that the Norwegian parliament, which was only responsible for domestic policy, would be less exposed to manipulations by the government. In addition, Alfred Nobel was very fond of the Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, which could have influenced his decision.
News
In 2011, the prize, which was endowed with SEK 10 million, was reduced to SEK 8 million. As of 2017, it is endowed with SEK 9 million.
Winners
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 98 people and 20 organizations since its creation in 1901. The International Committee of the Red Cross has received it three times: in 1917, in 1944 and in 1963; the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 1954 and in 1981.
This award was not awarded during the main years of the world wars.
Criticism
Notable omissions
Foreign Policy has labeled Mahatma Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, U Thant, Václav Havel, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Fazle Hasan Abed and Corazon Aquino as people who "never won the award, but deserved it." ».