Nobel Peace Prize Promote Fraternity Advance Peace

Alfred Nobel stated in his 1895 will that one prize should go to the person who has done the most to advance fraternity among nations, abolish standing armies, and promote peace congresses. He left the bulk of his estate to fund this award, along with prizes in physics, chemistry, medicine, and literature. The Peace Prize differs from the others because Nobel asked the Norwegian Parliament to appoint the committee that selects the winner, while Swedish academies award the remaining prizes.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee reviews nominations submitted by members of national assemblies, governments, international courts, previous laureates, and selected academics. Each year the committee receives hundreds of names, keeps the list secret for fifty years, and then conducts months of investigation before voting in October. The award ceremony takes place on December 10 in Oslo City Hall, where the laureate receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a substantial cash grant.

Recipients have included activists, statespersons, humanitarian organizations, and grassroots movements whose work has reduced armed conflict, advanced human rights, or fostered disarmament. The list features figures such as Martin Luther King Junior, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The prize does not claim to end wars overnight, but it offers global recognition, moral authority, and financial support that winners often use to expand their peace building efforts.

Media coverage of the announcement spreads within minutes, sparking debate about the recipient and about the nature of peace itself. Some choices have drawn criticism, yet the award continues to influence public discourse by highlighting individuals and causes that might otherwise remain obscure. In this way the Nobel Peace Prize still carries the weight of Alfred Nobel's conviction that human ingenuity and courage can replace confrontation with cooperation.