President Obama and the United States Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize

By Dr. Mehdi Hyseni

Congratulations President Obama!

One purpose of this essay is to clarify that the United States needs realistic and multilateral diplomacy as President Obama with his top official staff has been doing over the past nine months. One result of this new strategic doctrine was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, in Oslo, Norway. I also wish to increase understanding of the changing contours of the world by peaceful and multilateral dialogue within the international system and its institutions such as the United Nations and international law.

It is possible to understand rightly and reasonably why President Obama-America was chosen as laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. This is a main point of our analysis.

When Obama speaks, the entire world is listening to his voice with admiration and gratification. Why? Because he's the right architect to make a new realistic, multilateral and peaceful world order.

I commence this essay with a very popular wisdom dictum from my Albanian nation: "A beautiful day is seeing in the morning"!

What does this mean in the political and diplomatic context of our explanation?

Very simply, even though President Obama only came to the White House nine months ago, there is no doubt that he quickly showed his high and rational political qualities to get the country back on a normal, reasonable, pragmatic and acceptable track. He is working on the fragile economy, high unemployment, health care reform, and improvement of the United States' diplomatic image.

These ideas, agendas and projects are the priority objectives of common and vital interest to the United States (inside and abroad) that have become the hallmarks of the past nine months of Obama's first presidential term.

This is a new era for national interest and international political doctrine and strategy for the United States which now becomes very clear to everybody inside and outside of America, which wants to be much more cooperative, credible, respectful, acceptable, successful and peaceful than before, during George W. Bush era (2001-2009).

Within this new realistic and pragmatic strategy, crucial international problems such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, and climate change have been discussed. To understand and clarify the reasons why Obama deserves, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, we can say that it's easy and hard to arrive at the right conclusion.

It is easy for people who understand peace, democracy, stability, mutual cooperation, dialogue, prosperity and understanding between nations and states of the world. But, on the other hand it is very difficult for people who do not understand the significance of mutual support, respect, cooperation and peace.

It is very hard to explain peace as a universal value of the international state system to hardline politicians who don't want, and aren't willing to make peace and dialogue with other nations according to international law rules and principles.

Why was President Obama awarded the Nobel Peace Price?

Citing the official statement of Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland who said: "The Nobel Committee lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation but recognized initiatives such as reducing the world stock of nuclear arms, easing American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthening the U.S. role in combating climate change. Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future." Obama's election and foreign policy moves caused a dramatic improvement in the image of the U.S. around the world. "[1]

The decision to honor Obama was a unanimous decision by the five member Nobel Peace Prize Committee who justified it in favor of peace and cooperation between nations within international institutions such as the United Nations state system and multilateral diplomacy.

Also, "The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that 'Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges." [2]

This international Nobel Peace Prize to president Obama came at the right time which I understand is a great award not only for Obama, but also for the United States. President Obama was surprised, saying: "I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize - men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace."[3]

Regardless of this official statement, the United Sates is still is accounted, trusted and respected as a World leader in resolving international crucial issues in multilateral international diplomacy with world partners.

Obama said "Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of inspirations held by people in all nations."[4]

Is "Unipolar Momentum" coming to an end?

According to some prominent international political relations and international law and diplomacy scholars the 'Unipolar Momentum" of George Bush's New World Order (1990) is coming to an end, as a result of beginning a new stage of international multilateral diplomacy and institutions on accord with United Nations and international law principles and values.

But that doesn't mean that the United States should give up of its reputation as a world model and leader of freedom, democracy, morality, justice, dignity and peace which are the greatest resources and basic universal values accepted by the majority of the international community.

The new stage of Obama's multilateral diplomacy should understand and treat reasonably and objectively that means a new realism and pragmatism of the United States diplomacy which will bring back on track protection and promotion of the fundamental national interest and foreign policy.

In this context of the significance of Obama's wining Nobel Peace Prize, declared and the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, saying that:" The Nobel Committees decision to reward Obama's multilateral approach to the world is great news. President Obama embodies the new spirit of dialogue and engagement on the world's biggest problems such as climate change, nuclear disarmament, and a wide range of peace and security challenges."[6]

References
[1] Bureau News, in a surprise, Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize, October 9th, 2009, Oslo (See blog.taragana.com/n/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-for-extraordinary-efforts-to-strengthen-international-diplomacy-191495//.

[2] http://media-newswire.com, Washington, 10.10.2009.
[3] The Washington Post, October 10, 2009.
[4] The Washington Times, October 10, 2009.
[5] http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/10/09/president-obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize///

[6] Associated Press, October 10, 2009.