The Nobel Peace Prize Is Awarded in Norway, Not Sweden

The selection of a Norwegian committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize, a unique departure from the Swedish-based committees for the other prizes, is a subject of historical speculation as Alfred Nobel never explained his reasoning. When Nobel wrote his will in 1895, Norway and Sweden were in a union, which lasted from 1814 until its peaceful dissolution in 1905. While they shared a monarch and foreign policy, Norway maintained its own constitution and a growing sense of national identity. This political arrangement is the backdrop for Nobel's surprising decision.

Several theories attempt to unravel Nobel's motivations. One prominent idea is that Nobel recognized the Norwegian parliament's active involvement in the international peace movement of the late 19th century. Norway had gained a reputation for favoring arbitration and peaceful conflict resolution, which may have appealed to Nobel's own aspirations for the prize. Another theory suggests Nobel was influenced by his admiration for the Norwegian writer and prominent peace activist, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.

A further possibility is that Nobel, a cosmopolitan who lived much of his life abroad, intended to distribute the responsibility of the prizes, and the political nature of the peace prize was best suited to the less militaristic of the two united kingdoms. The Swedish-Norwegian Union was not always harmonious, and by selecting Norway, Nobel may have sought to create a more international and neutral aura around the Peace Prize. Ultimately, without a definitive statement from Nobel himself, the true reason remains an intriguing historical mystery, adding to the prize's unique legacy.