Is the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize a Plea for Global Peace and Stability?

In a world filled with conflicts, devastation, and crisis, the Nobel Peace Prize often serves as a symbol of hope. As the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 is set to be announced, many are asking whether this year’s award will serve as a plea for global peace and stability. 

With wars raging in Ukraine, the Middle East, and famine plaguing countries like Sudan, the question is not just who will win the prize, but what message the award will send to a troubled world.

This year’s Peace Prize announcement will take place on Friday at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) at the Nobel Institute in Oslo. As the climax of the Nobel Prize season, it comes at a time when global affairs seem more turbulent than ever. 

According to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, there were 59 armed conflicts around the world in 2023, nearly double the number from 2009. The increasing frequency of conflict underscores the need for peace, but it also raises a critical question: can peace efforts keep pace with the rising tide of violence?

Some experts have argued that in such a difficult time, the Nobel Peace Prize should not be awarded this year. This has happened 19 times in the past since the prize was first awarded in 1901. 

However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee believes that now, more than ever, it is vital to recognize those working for peace. According to Olav Njolstad, secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, “forces of peace do not seem to be on the offensive” in the world today, but there are still people and organizations making meaningful contributions.

There are several potential candidates for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, many of whom have been active in upholding international order amidst chaos. Among the most notable are the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 

The ICJ has been vocal in its calls for Russia to end its offensive in Ukraine and for Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza, though its rulings have largely gone unheeded. Meanwhile, UNRWA has provided crucial aid to millions of Palestinians, despite criticism from Israeli authorities. António Guterres, on the other hand, has consistently called for ceasefires and dialogue in conflict-ridden regions, striving to uphold international peace.

Other possible winners include the International Criminal Court (ICC), which holds individuals accountable for war crimes, and the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, which works to prevent the use of autonomous weapons in warfare. 

Human rights organizations like the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and activists such as Afghan women’s rights advocate Mahbouba Seraj have also been highlighted as strong contenders.

In total, there are 286 candidates for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, including 197 individuals and 89 organizations. 

While the Norwegian Nobel Committee keeps the official list of nominees confidential for 50 years, some nominators reveal their proposals. Among the known nominees are former U.S. President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, Pope Francis, former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, British environmentalist David Attenborough, and Reporters Without Borders.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually in Oslo, while other Nobel categories, such as medicine, physics, and literature, are announced in Stockholm. Last year’s Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian activist who has fought against the oppression of women in Iran. 

This year’s Nobel season has been predominantly male and Anglo-Saxon, with notable winners in artificial intelligence (AI), including Geoffrey Hinton and John Jumper.

The Nobel Prizes, which consist of a diploma, a gold medal, and a $1 million prize, will be awarded on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896. As the world awaits the announcement of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, it remains to be seen whether the committee will use this moment to make a strong statement in favor of global peace and stability.