The Top 10 Most Controversial Recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize

Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the Nobel Peace Prize with the intent to reward "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." However, this ideal hasn't always been met. Below are the ten most controversial winners of the Nobel Peace Prize:

10. Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize, awarded 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," sparked controversy from the beginning. This was further intensified by politically charged remarks from the chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, supported by Gunnar Staalsett, another member of the 5-person, secretive Nobel Committee.

Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, stirred controversy when she seemingly gave credence to the idea that HIV was created by white scientists to wipe out black people. However, she later expressed regret for unintentionally portraying herself as a conspiracy theorist.

Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his efforts to raise awareness about Global Warming. However, his recognition has sparked debate over whether his work truly aligned with the prize's intended purpose. The controversy extends beyond his advocacy for Global Warming, with some questioning whether it poses a genuine threat to humanity. Notably, a UK High Court judge ruled that a copy of Gore’s documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth' could only be sent to schools with guidelines highlighting 'nine scientific errors' and addressing his 'one-sided views'. Additionally, Gore's own electricity bills revealed a startling contradiction to his energy-saving message, showing that he consumed 22,619 kilowatts in a single month—more than double the average household's annual usage.

Rigoberta Menchú, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992, has faced allegations of dishonesty regarding her autobiography, 'I, Rigoberta Menchu,' which recounts her life in Guatemala during the late 1950s. Some details about her family and personal experiences were reportedly altered to further her leftist agenda, as revealed by anthropologist David Stoll’s investigative work.

Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his role in the Vietnam Peace Accords, despite being linked to controversial military actions. He had authorized the secret bombing campaign in Cambodia from 1969 to 1975 aimed at eliminating North Vietnamese Army forces. Furthermore, Kissinger's involvement in Operation Condor, a covert campaign involving the kidnapping and murder orchestrated by the intelligence and security services of several South American countries, has led to widespread criticism. His support for the invasion of Cyprus, which resulted in a foreign occupation of one-third of the island for 33 years, also raised concerns. Some peace advocates argue that Kissinger's Nobel Peace Prize is a symbol of the award's diminishing relevance.

Rabin was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 alongside Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat. While serving in the Israeli military, Rabin had ordered the expulsion of Arabs from areas captured by Israel during the 1948 War. As Defense Minister, he also oversaw the harsh crackdown on Palestinians during the First Intifada. Despite the peace agreement, Rabin continued to authorize the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.

Shimon Peres, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, was instrumental in developing Israel’s nuclear weapons program. Additionally, he faced criticism for his role in the 1996 Qana Massacre, where Israeli forces shelled a village in southern Lebanon, killing 106 civilians and injuring 116 others. The attack also injured four Fijian soldiers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Yasser Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 alongside Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. For many years, Arafat was viewed by critics as a terrorist leader. In fact, Kåre Kristiansen, a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, resigned in protest of Arafat's Nobel Peace Prize win, calling him a 'terrorist.'

Cordell Hull was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his significant contributions to fostering peace and understanding in the Western Hemisphere, his efforts in shaping trade agreements, and his role in the creation of the United Nations. However, in 1939, when the SS St. Louis, carrying over 950 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, sought asylum in the U.S., President Roosevelt showed some willingness to admit them, but Hull, as Secretary of State, opposed this, threatening Roosevelt’s support in the 1940 election. As a result, the refugees were denied entry, and the ship was forced to return to Germany, with many passengers later perishing in concentration camps.

Menachem Begin, the 6th Prime Minister of Israel, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978 for his key role in securing the Camp David Accords, a landmark peace agreement that same year (the prize was shared with Anwar Sadat). However, Begin’s earlier history as the leader of the militant Zionist group Irgun, widely regarded as a terrorist organization, remains contentious. Irgun was responsible for the 1946 King David Hotel bombing.

Final Thoughts

Although the controversial individuals listed above were (or are) recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, Mahatma Gandhi never received the honor, despite being nominated five times. In addition, figures like Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison were overlooked in the field of science due to their personal rivalry. Had Tesla been awarded a prize, the prize money could have potentially saved him from filing for bankruptcy in 1916, and it’s possible that modern society could have unfolded differently.

This article is licensed under the GFDL. It uses material from the Wikipedia articles: Qana Massacre, and Nobel Prize Controversies

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