Why was Barack Obama awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?

Category: Political Analysis

Tags: DiplomacyLeadershipNobelObamaPolitics

Entities: Barack ObamaHarry MelconianNobel Peace PrizeTheodore RooseveltUnited States

Summary

• Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
• Barack Obama has vowed to use his Nobel Peace Prize as a call to lead the world in confronting its most difficult challenges.
• Critics argue the award is premature, while supporters see it as a reward for ending an era of American unilateralism.
• The prize is seen as encouragement for Obama to continue his efforts in bringing the US back into the world community as a force for human welfare and progress.
• It serves as a recognition of the direction Obama is taking, rather than a reward for a specific achievement.
• Impact and Expectations
• There is hope that the prize will raise expectations and enhance Obama's credibility on the world stage.
• At home, the reaction to the award is mixed, but it offers comfort to many Americans about their president's international reception.
• The award's impact on Obama's political opponents is minimal, as international perception does not influence domestic voting.
• Historical Context
• The award is compared to Theodore Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting the diplomatic efforts over military actions.
• Obama is seen as a positive force, similar to Roosevelt, aiming to achieve goals through diplomacy and stature.

Transcript

00:00

and Barack Obama has vowed to use his Nobel Peace Prize as a call to lead the world in confronting its most difficult challenges the president's supporters

00:15

agree but critics say the award is premature senior lecturer at the US studies Center Harry melconian says it can also be seen as a reward for ending an era of American Union

00:30

lateralis I think the prize is one he's changed direction for the United States he's trying to bring back the us into the world Community as an idealistic force uh a force for human welfare and

00:47

progress and away from the belligerency of the uh prior eight years and I think it's an encouragement it's not a reward America for a single event he's done it's a recognition of where he's going

01:03

and it's a statement from the world community that this is where the US should be going so it is meant to serve as an encouragement rather than for something definitely achieved do you think that it will raise expectations as

01:20

a result uh in hindering what he's trying to achieve well I hope it raises expectations but I also hope it doesn't Hinder I think it will be another level of credibility for him on the world

01:35

stage and what about at home at home the reaction is definitely mixed well he's a political leader in the United States the reaction will be mixed but I think overall it will give some comfort to most Americans that

01:53

their president instead of being reviled overseas is receiving this type of deception does it matter to his political opponents at home how he's perceived by the rest of the world which is with a lot of Goodwill probably not

02:11

because people in the rest of the world don't cast votes and we've all seen leaders in other parts of the world who were enormously popular overseas fail at their own polls is there a risk now that he may

02:27

not live up to dis billing I think there's always that risk but it's uh he has to try and make the effort and I think as a diplomat making the effort is frequently a self-fulfilling uh goal by interjecting

02:45

himself as a positive force I think he's already shown himself to be a positive force uh historically theore Roosevelt who won the same prize he voluntarily injected himself in a war between Russia

03:00

and Japan and through sheer force of his will he settled it he didn't use arms he didn't use threat of War he simply used his stature and I think President Obama will be acting on that same basis and on

03:16

that note Dr malconian thank you so much thank you