In 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918 and 1919 the Nobel Committee did not award a Peace Prize because of World War I. Although no official records exist, they appear to have been torn between having their dreams of peace shattered by this horrific war and a feeling that now, more than ever, the world needed examples of peacemaking. The horror won. Also, in the back of their minds must have been a fear of appearing to take sides and thus corrupting the neutrality of the Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes created by the Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel. Since 1901 it has been awarded annually (with some exceptions) to those who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses” Over the next few months we’ll be introducing you to the past Nobel laureates, leading up to the award of the 2016 prize in October.
