Nobel peace prize favourites overlook the quieter work of building peace, argues Oslo researcher
Ahead of the October 9 announcement, an op-ed argues the prize should recognise institutions and grassroots peacebuilders over famous political figures.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
Betting markets ahead of this year's Nobel peace prize are dominated by well-known names in global politics, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to an opinion piece published by the Guardian.
The article, written by Haakon Gjerløw, acting director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, argues that this focus on famous political figures misses the point of the award, which he writes is not meant to be a popularity contest based on name recognition.
Gjerløw contends that the most significant work toward building lasting peace is often carried out away from the media spotlight, citing the role of international courts that uphold international law, journalists who document atrocities, and humanitarian organisations that protect vulnerable communities on the ground.
The 2026 Nobel peace prize is due to be announced on 9 October. According to the piece, this gives the Nobel committee an opportunity to highlight that peace is typically built through durable institutions and sustained cooperation rather than high-profile diplomatic gestures.
The commentary reflects a broader debate that recurs ahead of each year's announcement, in which speculation about famous contenders often overshadows discussion of less visible individuals and organisations working on conflict resolution and humanitarian protection.
Sources
- Forget the famous names. Here is who actually deserves this year’s Nobel peace prize | Haakon Gjerløw — The Guardian — Opinion
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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