What do a 17-year-old Pakistani activist, a Norwegian explorer, a Tibetan monk, and an American pastor have in common? They all received the Nobel Peace Prize! This prestigious award is one of the most respected in the world and has been given to some of the most influential people and organizations in history.
To understand how the Nobel Peace Prize started, we need to go back to the 1800s. Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, was famous for inventing dynamite. This invention made him very wealthy, but he never married or had children. When he passed away, his will revealed a surprise: he wanted his fortune to fund five prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These prizes reflected his love for science and literature.
But why a peace prize? Some people think Nobel created it out of regret because his inventions were used in wars. However, this is just a guess. Nobel never said he felt this way, and his inventions were also used for good purposes. Historians believe his interest in peace was influenced by his friendship with Bertha Von Suttner, an Austrian pacifist. She was a leader in the peace movement and, in 1905, became the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Nobel’s will set three main criteria for the Peace Prize: disarmament, peace congresses, and brotherhood between nations. Over time, these criteria have expanded to include human rights and negotiations. The prize can be awarded to more than one person; in fact, about a third of the prizes have been shared by two or three winners.
So, how does someone get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize? According to the Nobel Foundation, nominations can come from members of national assemblies, state governments, or international courts. University leaders, professors of social sciences, history, philosophy, law, and theology, as well as previous Peace Prize winners, can also nominate candidates. However, the details of nominations are kept secret for 50 years!
For example, we didn’t know who nominated Martin Luther King Jr. until 2014. It turned out that the Quakers, who had previously won the prize, and eight members of the Swedish Parliament nominated him. There’s no limit to how many times someone can be nominated. Jane Addams, a pioneer of social work in the U.S., was nominated 91 times before she finally won.
The Nobel Peace Prize cannot be awarded posthumously, meaning it can’t be given after someone has passed away. The selection process is secretive and takes almost a year. It’s conducted by five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, who cannot have any official political roles in Norway.
Starting with over 300 nominations, the committee reviews each candidate’s work and creates a shortlist. The Nobel Committee chairman then announces the winner in October, and the award ceremony takes place on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Winners receive a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash prize of about 8 million Swedish kronor, or roughly a million US dollars. If there are multiple winners, they share the prize money.
While winners can use the prize money however they like, many choose to donate it to humanitarian or social causes. Historically, the Nobel Peace Prize was mostly awarded to European and North American men, but it has become more global and diverse over time.
There have been 126 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including 23 organizations and 103 individuals, with 87 men and 16 women among them. Notable winners include Desmond Tutu for his fight against apartheid in South Africa, Jody Williams for her campaign to ban landmines, Rigoberta Menchú Tum for her work for Indigenous rights, Martti Ahtisaari for resolving international conflicts, and Aung San Suu Kyi for her struggle for democracy in Myanmar.
These laureates have inspired and challenged us, showing that there are many ways to achieve peace in the world.
Research and create a timeline of notable Nobel Peace Prize winners. Include key details about their contributions to peace and why they were awarded the prize. This will help you understand the diverse ways individuals and organizations have worked towards global peace.
In groups, choose a historical figure or organization you believe deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Prepare a presentation to nominate them, highlighting their achievements in promoting peace. This activity will help you learn about the nomination process and the qualities that make a candidate worthy of the prize.
Engage in a classroom debate on whether the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded posthumously. Consider the pros and cons of this policy and how it might affect the legacy of potential laureates. This will encourage critical thinking about the prize’s rules and their implications.
Use your creativity to design a new medal for the Nobel Peace Prize. Think about symbols and imagery that represent peace and the values of the prize. Share your design with the class and explain your choices. This activity will help you connect with the symbolic aspects of the award.
Choose a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and research their life and achievements. Create a presentation to share with the class, focusing on how their work has contributed to peace. This will deepen your understanding of the impact and diversity of the prize’s recipients.
What do a 17-year-old Pakistani, a Norwegian explorer, a Tibetan monk, and an American pastor have in common? They were all awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Among the most prestigious awards in the world, this prize has honored some of the most celebrated and revered international figures and organizations in history.
To understand how it all began, we have to go back to the 1800s. Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel was primarily known for the invention of dynamite, a breakthrough that launched his career as a successful inventor and businessman. Thirty years later, he had become extremely wealthy but never married and had no children. When his will was opened after his death, it came as a surprise that his fortune was to be used for five prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These prizes illustrated his lifelong commitment to science and his passion for literature.
But what about peace? Because Nobel’s name was associated with inventions used in the war industry, many have assumed that he created the peace prize out of regret. However, this is speculation, as he never expressed such sentiments, and his inventions were also used for constructive purposes. Instead, many historians connect Alfred Nobel’s interest in the peace cause to his decade-long friendship and correspondence with an Austrian pacifist named Bertha Von Suttner. Von Suttner was one of the leaders of the international peace movement, and in 1905, after Nobel’s death, she became the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Nobel’s will outlined three criteria for the Peace Prize, which, unlike the other Sweden-based prizes, would be administered in Norway: disarmament, peace congresses, and brotherhood between nations. These standards have since been expanded to include other ways of promoting peace, such as human rights and negotiations. The prize doesn’t just have to go to one person; about a third of Nobel Peace Prizes have been shared by two or three laureates.
So how do nominations for the prize work? According to the Nobel Foundation, a valid nomination can come from a member of a national assembly, state government, or an international court. Eligible nominators also include university rectors, professors of social sciences, history, philosophy, law, and theology, as well as previous recipients of the Peace Prize. However, if you want to know more about who was recently nominated, you’ll have to be patient, as all information about nominations remains secret for 50 years.
Take Martin Luther King Jr. for example. We didn’t actually know who nominated him until 2014. His nominators turned out to be the Quakers, who had won the prize previously, and eight members of the Swedish Parliament. There’s no limit to the number of times a person or organization can be nominated. In fact, Jane Addams, recognized as the founder of social work in the United States, was nominated 91 times before finally being awarded the prize.
The absence of a laureate can also be symbolic. The 1948 decision not to award the prize following the death of Mahatma Gandhi has been interpreted as an attempt to respectfully honor the so-called missing laureate. As with the other Nobel Prizes, the Peace Prize can’t be awarded posthumously. The secret selection process takes almost a year and is carried out by the five appointed members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, who are forbidden from having any official political function in Norway.
Starting with a large pool of nominations, exceeding 300 in recent years, they assess each candidate’s work and create a shortlist. Finally, the chairman of the Nobel Committee publicly announces the laureate in October. The awards ceremony takes place on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The prize itself includes a gold medal inscribed with the Latin words, “Pro pace et fraternitate gentium,” or “For the peace and brotherhood of men,” as well as a diploma and a large cash prize. Recently, it’s been 8 million Swedish kronor, or roughly a million US dollars, which is split in the case of multiple laureates.
While laureates can use the prize money as they choose, in recent years, many have donated it to humanitarian or social causes. For many years, the Nobel Peace Prize was predominantly awarded to European and North American men. However, significant changes have been taking place, making the prize more global than ever.
A total of 126 Nobel Peace Prize laureates in history include 23 organizations and 103 individuals, comprising 87 men and 16 women. They include Desmond Tutu for his nonviolent campaign against apartheid in South Africa, Jody Williams for her campaign to ban and clear anti-personnel mines, Rigoberta Menchú Tum for her work for social justice and reconciliation based on respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples, Martti Ahtisaari for his efforts to resolve international conflicts in Namibia, Kosovo, and Indonesia, and Aung San Suu Kyi for her nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar.
These are just a few examples of the people who have inspired us, challenged us, and demonstrated through their actions that there are many paths to peace.
Nobel – A prestigious international award given annually in several categories such as peace, literature, and sciences, established by the will of Alfred Nobel. – Alfred Nobel’s invention of dynamite led to the creation of the Nobel Prizes to honor those who contribute positively to humanity.
Peace – A state of tranquility or quietness, especially in the context of international relations where it refers to the absence of war and conflict. – The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to individuals or groups who have made significant efforts to promote peace and resolve conflicts.
Prize – An award given to recognize an achievement, often in the form of money or a medal. – The Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the author for their outstanding contribution to the literary world.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, and how they shape the present and future. – Understanding history helps us learn from past mistakes and successes to build a better future.
Criteria – Standards or principles by which something is judged or decided. – The criteria for selecting Nobel Prize winners include originality, impact, and contribution to humanity.
Nominations – The act of formally suggesting someone for a position, award, or honor. – Each year, numerous nominations are submitted for the Nobel Peace Prize from around the world.
Selection – The process of choosing someone or something from a group based on specific criteria. – The selection of Nobel Prize winners involves a thorough review by committees of experts in each field.
Humanitarian – Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare and social reform. – The Nobel Peace Prize often recognizes humanitarian efforts that improve the lives of people in need.
Diversity – The inclusion of different types of people, ideas, or cultures in a group or organization. – The Nobel Prize committee values diversity in its selection process to ensure a wide range of perspectives and contributions are recognized.
Rights – Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement. – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a significant milestone in promoting equality and justice worldwide.
