President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize: Why he Deserves the Award
When President Obama was announced the 2009 Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Award Recipient, varying echoes were heard across all global political and social mediums, spurring on whether the Young hegemonic American leader thus deserve the Award. In an October 9, 2009 press release, in Oslo, the award committee pointed that its decision to Award President Obama as the 2009 Nobel Peace Winner was based on “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples, his call for dialogue and negotiations as instruments for resolving international conflicts, and his vision of a world free from nuclear arms, thus stimulating disarmament and arms control negotiations.” The announcement was however received with a mix-reaction.
Just as many argued that winning the award nine months in to his Presidency was too soon, many others opined that the Award was indeed a novelty that he very well deserves.
In the midst of two wars, the left of the global political spectrum concluded the Award as a controversy. The right on the other hand argued Obama’s Nobel Peace Award as a compromise of American leadership and influence. Others also contend the Award was a backlash on the Policies of his predecessor, former President Georg Bush. Many others – including previous award winners- hailed the decision to name President Obama as the 2009 Nobel Peace Award recipient as a historic reasoning of modern times.
Who is right or wrong? How do we therefore collectively come to a genuine reasoning on the choice of the 2009 Norwegian Nobel Peace Award winner? These are the questions that will continue to be a global hot theme.
Even though a mix response to the aforementioned questions already took shape, it is important to understand that objectivity across the global political discourse must never be under-estimated. Obama came to office at a time when American influence and leadership was questioned and challenged, international diplomacy threatened by a rising global tension among nations, the proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and a dangerous clash of ideologies among civilizations.
Nonetheless his call for partnerships in all international efforts has steered global politics on to a path that has curb the dangers and threats to International Peace and Diplomacy. His policies ushered in a paradigm shift promoting peace, security and development of a world in the midst of real challenges. His message of change and his call for a shared responsibility and a global response to global challenges is shaping doorsteps, hamlets, cubicles and remote places across the world.
Carefully taking an in-depth analysis of global politics in the last decade, it is important to acknowledge the serious divisions that best characterized the 21st century international politics. President Obama’s renouncement of torture and bold move to close Guantanamo, his call for diplomacy and a multi-lateral approach to confront modern global challenges could not have come at a better time. By using diplomacy in his quest for a better and safer world, he has not the least compromised America’s image around the world, but only bolstered American leadership, values and influence, thus strengthened global solidarity.
Laying such great foundations within nine months of his Presidency is a step in the right direction. The Nobel Peace Prize will only strengthen his noble quest of global citizenship: that is making the world a better place for all. It is therefore only fair to say that he deserves the Award.
Binneh s Minteh, Newark, New Jersey
Former Gambian Army First Lieutenant
The author is an Independent Researcher, Analyst and Consultant. He could be reached by email at bsm235@nyu.edu
