Probably, only the desire of mankind for self-expression and heroic actions contributes to the emergence of unusually tenacious initiatives. So a gentleman by the name of Nobel took it and decided to leave his money to descendants in order to reward the gentlemen who stood out in a particular area. He had long rested in the land of raw, but the people remember him. The population is waiting (some with impatience) when they announce the next lucky ones. And the candidates are trying, setting goals, even intriguing, trying to climb this Olympus of glory. And if everything is clear with scientists and researchers - they receive their awards for real achievements or discoveries, then what distinguishes the Nobel Peace Prize winners? Interesting? Let's figure it out.
Who awards the prize and for what?
There is a special committee whose main task is to select and approve
nominations for the highest award in this field. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to people who have distinguished themselves in strengthening security and stability on the planet. It is issued annually. The procedure takes place in Oslo on December 10th. At the same time, both international organizations and national governments can propose a candidacy that will become a laureate. In the charter of the committee they are listed. Any person who was or is a member of the Nobel Committee also has the right to participate in the nomination process. In addition, the Charter confers such privileges on university professors involved in politics or history.
The winners of the Nobel Peace Prize themselves also have the opportunity to offer outstanding figures to replenish their ranks. The procedure is quite democratic. It is important to justify your proposal. Naturally, forgeries or tricks are inappropriate here. The nominee must know the whole world. The activities of such a person cannot be a secret. Only open and significant to humanity.
A bit of history
I must say that the Nobel Peace Prize was born as a kind of "atonement for sins." Alfred Nobel was a scientist, a man enthusiastic and not warlike. He invented and created dynamite. The inventor was motivated by a desire to help humanity explore the natural expanses, to extract minerals. He did not imagine what a terrible “snake” he was releasing into the world. His discovery, of course, was used for its intended purpose. Only more did it become famous (in a negative sense) in the war. Dynamite was a terrible and destructive weapon at that time. Not only did the inventor suffer from such an unexpected turn of events, but he was also “rinsed” in the press by the full program. A person who wants to give the world a convenient and useful tool was called almost a killer.
This offended Nobel. In the will, he ordered the estate to be placed in the bank. The accumulated funds are divided into five parts, one of which is annually issued to a person who has distinguished himself in establishing peace. The remaining four were intended for scientists who achieved outstanding results in physics, chemistry, medicine and art (literature).
Who became the first?
Nobel rested in 1896. His will began to be fulfilled after some time. Naturally, it was necessary to carry out organizational measures, develop “rules” and “criteria”. The first Nobel Peace Prize winners were announced in 1901. There were two of them. This is allowed. It is not necessary to give the entire amount to one candidate. If the Committee considers that several people showed equal abilities, achieved results of comparable significance, then they will be awarded one prize. In 1901, they became Frederick Passy and Jean Henri Dunant. They have made a significant contribution to the creation of mechanisms designed to resolve conflicts. Passy worked at the inter-parliamentary level. Through his efforts, the International Peace League was created. Dunant became famous for the idea of creating the International Committee of the Red Cross. This organization is still considered one of the largest humanitarian missions. Since then, one hundred and two people have been awarded the same award. The Nobel Peace Prize was also awarded to collective bodies. Twenty-five organizations received it.
Who and for what received the Nobel Peace Prize?
Laureates, whose list is not hidden from the general public, cause different responses in the souls of people. Some are considered real "doves of the world", others are condemned for one reason or another. Some members of the public say they are undeservedly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Laureates (the list varies in different countries) are criticized mainly for political reasons.
There is a list of the most scandalous individuals with this award. At the same time, one part of humanity believes that they received the prize quite deservedly, while the other denies this fact. The thing is how to relate to the results of their activities. Indeed, for example, Gorbachev, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, is perceived ambiguously in the Russian Federation and abroad. In the West, his activity to destroy the "evil empire" (USSR) is considered outstanding, and in the vastness of this former great country it is considered a great misfortune. The President of Russia has repeatedly called this event a tragedy, referring to those troubles that suddenly fell on the heads of ordinary people. By the way, V.V. Putin was repeatedly nominated for the award. Unfortunately, the Nobel Peace Prize is not yet on the list of its achievements. Most likely, this is not an indicator of the attitude of the world to its work, but a political game.
Most Honored Laureates
Various figures have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Among them, the unambiguous attitude to his merits stands out Martin Luther King. This great man fought against racial discrimination. He was a pastor and believed that it was possible to overcome negative phenomena absolutely peacefully, without involving aggressive methods. His contribution to the democratization of US society is still considered unsurpassed.
This is also an assessment of the achievements of Nelson Mandela. He was awarded in 1993. His life was devoted to the struggle for the equal rights of citizens, regardless of skin color. For his anti-racist ideas, he was isolated in prison for thirty years, but did not give up. It should be noted that Mandela enjoyed the incredible respect of his fellow citizens. Not even four years have passed since his release, and he was elected president of South Africa.
When they study who received the Nobel Peace Prize, they are sure to come across the name of another politician whose activities are not criticized. Such a person is Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama. This is an absolutely outstanding personality. From an early age he was forced to take on spiritual leadership. Buddhists recognized the boy as an incarnation of the deceased llama. Subsequently, he had to shoulder the political responsibility for Tibet (at sixteen). All his work is based on kindness, tolerance and love (from the wording of the Nobel Committee). It should be added that he could not agree with the Chinese government. Now lives and pursues his ideas in exile.
It turns out that not everything is so simple!
There are quite controversial winners of this high award. The committee is often criticized for being too politicized. Residents of the post-Soviet space, such a figure seems Mikhail Gorbachev. The Nobel Peace Prize was also awarded to such a controversial person from the point of view of the world community as Yasser Arafat.
This decision of the Committee is considered scandalous on the grounds that this laureate did not deny military ways to achieve his goals. On his account not only fighting, but also terrorist acts. He himself proclaimed his goal the destruction of an entire sovereign state (Israel). That is, despite the fact that Arafat fought for the well-being of the inhabitants of the Middle East, it is difficult to assign him the title of peacemaker. Another scandalous figure is Barack Obama. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to him in 2009. It must be said that the Committee had to come to terms with a flurry of criticisms of the decision.
About Obama more
The world press still flashes the view that the President of the United States was awarded the “advance” award. At that time he had just assumed office, had not yet distinguished himself by anything significant. And the initiatives and decisions that he subsequently made do not at all explain why he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Obama is considered the president who unleashed the greatest number of military conflicts. Their victims are not calculable due to the "hybrid nature" of these clashes (the term appeared recently). He had to make a decision about the bombing and ground operations. He is criticized for the invasion of Syria, the riots in Iraq and Ukraine. Nonetheless, Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize and is listed among its laureates.
This “advance reward” leads to the emergence of new scandals. As zones of exacerbation of tension arise, some politicians speak out in favor of canceling this award. It is believed that such non-peaceful behavior dishonors a high premium. In the Russian Federation, of course, they believe that V.V. Putin is a more worthy candidate. The Nobel Peace Prize, perhaps, will still be awarded to him for the true perseverance that he shows in resolving conflicts.
About money
People are often interested not so much in achieving the personalities awarded this award, but in its amount. The Nobel Peace Prize can really amaze the imagination. The fact is that all the funds of the Committee do not just lie in financial institutions. They "work", increasing in size. According to the will, profit is divided into five parts. They are not the same and are becoming increasingly impressive in size from year to year. So, the very first amount handed in 1901 was equal to forty-two thousand dollars. In 2003, the amount already amounted to 1.35 million. The size of the global economy affects its size. Dividends that are paid may not only increase, but also decrease. For example, in 2007 the amount of the premium was equal to 1.542 million, and by 2008 it had "melted away" (1.4 million dollars).
The indicated funds are distributed in five equal shares in nominations, and then in the number of laureates, in accordance with the rules according to which the Nobel Peace Prize is appointed. How much money will go to the awards in each year - determines the Committee, after making the appropriate calculations of earnings from securities and other assets.
Russian laureates
Our fellow citizens only received such an award twice. In addition to Gorbachev, the scientist Andrei Sakharov was awarded this honor. Moreover, it was not his scientific works that became the reason for the award. Sakharov was considered a human rights activist and a fighter with the regime. In Soviet times, he was sharply criticized and persecuted. The scientist worked on the creation of hydrogen weapons. Despite this, he openly advocated a ban on testing weapons of mass destruction, against an arms race. His ideas were very popular in society and did not like the ruling elite.
Sakharov is considered to be a passionate advocate of peace, who suffered for his views. The Nobel Committee used the wording: "for courage in the fight against abuse of power …". Nevertheless, he was rather an idealist, a kind and non-aggressive person (according to the recollections of colleagues). More than Russians did not receive high rewards, which does not mean that worthy personalities do not live in our country. Rather, this fact can be perceived as the political commitment of the Committee, the use of rewards in geopolitical competition.
Who has not received the prize, but worthy?
Many politicians believe that Mahatma Gandhi deserved a high award above all other figures. This man was involved in organizing the struggle of the Indians against the colonialists. Gandhi had not only to invent ways in which the weak and unarmed population could resist the British army, but they also had to be correlated with the characteristics of the local religion. He invented such a method. It is called nonviolent resistance and is often used today. Mahatma Gandhi has been proposed to the Committee five times. Only “more worthy” candidates were found (which again can be explained by the politicization of this organization). Subsequently, officials responsible for awarding the Nobel Prize expressed their regrets that Gandhi never became a laureate.
Incidents of the Nobel Committee
There are such incredible things in the history of this organization that today can only be perceived anecdotally. So, as you know, none other than Adolf Hitler was nominated for this award in 1939. Fortunately, he did not get the Nobel Peace Prize. And it's not about the money. What would be the prestige of an organization that would call a peacemaker a man guilty of the deaths of millions of people on our planet? The Nobel Committee refused to award it, citing its decision by the attitude of the Nazis towards the Jews.
Nevertheless, during the nomination, Hitler's activity looked quite progressive for the German intelligentsia. He had just concluded two major peace agreements, raised industry, cared for the development of science and art. Nowadays, people understand the extent to which Hitler’s claim for the award was absurd and unfounded. But at that time, the inhabitants of Germany perceived him as a real leader, leading them to a bright life. Yes, to some extent this was true. He really cared about the Germans, only at the expense of people of other nationalities. To the credit of the members of the Nobel Committee, they understood this and refused his candidacy for the award.
