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The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama, the third prominent US Democrat to win recently, only seemed to reinforce an impression the prize can be as much about politics as about peace.
Some observers interpreted the Nobel less than nine months into Obama's presidency, before he had had time to pursue much peace policy, as a last dagger from Europe tossed at Obama's Republican predecessor, former President George W. Bush, who was unpopular there.
Here are some questions and answers about the prize and US politics.
Which Democrats have won the prize recently?
Former President Jimmy Carter won in 2002 for "his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
In 2007, former Democratic Vice President Al Gore shared the award with the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for highlighting the risks of global warming. In 2000, he lost one of the closest presidential elections in US history to Bush.
Is there a political message to the award?
Obama has been widely credited with improving America's global image after the eight-year presidency of Bush, who alienated friends and foes with policies that often aroused international ire like the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
The Peace Prize committee's announcement seemed to draw a contrast. "Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics," it said. "Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts."
How do politicians use the award?
Democrats trumpeted the Nobel as a vindication of their party's positions.
"It validates the president's approach to tough trans-national challenges such as global warming and the spread of nuclear arms," said Howard Berman, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "And it celebrates his steady efforts to improve America's standing around the world."
Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, used the award to underscore the party's contention that Obama lacks substance and trades on his charisma.
"It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights," Steele said in a statement.
Do republicans ever win the Nobel Peace Prize?
Recent winners have been Democrats, but several of the first US peace prize laureates were Republican politicians, including President Theodore Roosevelt, who won the 1906 prize while in office for his role in ending the bloody 1905 war between Japan and Russia.
Elihu Root, the 1912 winner, was a former Republican secretary of state, as was the 1929 winner, Frank Billings Kellogg. A former Republican vice president, Charles Gates Dawes, shared the prize in 1925.
Will the prize help Obama politically?
It might or might not.
Even Obama's supporters were surprised he had won the prize so early in his presidency.
Some observers said it gave him added credibility on the world stage, but others said it would give him even more to live up to, as he wrestles with a range of problems including wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a sputtering economy and rising unemployment, climate change and his effort to reform the US healthcare system.
"The prize signals that America is definitively back in the world's good graces and the pesident deserves full credit for that," said Martin Indyk, vice president and director for foreign policy at the Brookings Institution.
"Now comes the hard part: turning goodwill into concrete results that can heal the wounds of a very troubled world. If Obama can do that, he'll deserve another Nobel."
Add a Comment:
Post new commentIma Lien said on 2009-10-16 @ 17:56 NZDT: Report abusive post
... "Everybody knows Beyonce should have got it! ..."
Perana said on 2009-10-11 @ 17:40 NZDT: Report abusive post
What a joke ......
Seriously said on 2009-10-10 @ 23:02 NZDT: Report abusive post
What a ridiculous prize, not only are they devaluing the work of true peace makers, they are also sending the world the message that if you have enough political power you don't actually have to do anything just say out loud that you would like something to change! I had previously held the nobel committee in high esteem, but this seems like a cheap political game- made even worse by the fact that true and deserving world leaders like Mahatma Gandhi never recieved the nobel peace prize.
russelll said on 2009-10-10 @ 19:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
What is happening with this world! Obama with a Nobel peace prize, that the nominations had to be in by the first couple of days of February. HE had only been ruining America for two weeks. Since when did the peace prize go to people that can barely read a teleprompter and not accomplish anything in his first 9 months in office. There are others out there that would have deserved this award more than Obama! No Accomplishments = Nobel prize for Obama
benrebo said on 2009-10-10 @ 14:02 NZDT: Report abusive post
Barack Obama has given us all hope!!! Now we can all just say we are going to do things and we get the prize whether or not we can, and for me, actually achieving my goals has always been tricky. So in advance of my nobel prize I'd like to publicly announce that I intend to cure cancer. Today is a victory for all those of words and no action - long live Barack!