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Immature prize, mature response
by
SEVGİ AKARÇEŞME*
by
SEVGİ AKARÇEŞME*
Immediately after the most astonishing news of the day, even online social networks were full of reactions mostly mocking the prize awarders. For some Obama was given the award simply for not being Bush while for others it was his intentions, not actions that were rewarded. Indeed, the official explanation seems like the verification of rewarding words more than actions since the announcement lacked any concrete achievement, but included a lot of praise for rhetoric. In the Islamic faith, the value of action is weighed according to one's intentions and even though actions do not bring about the desired outcome, the good intention is rewarded. In realpolitik, however, this is hardly the case.
The Norwegian Nobel committee's statement emphasizing international diplomacy, cooperation between peoples, multilateral diplomacy, dialogue and negotiations seems more like an encouragement for Obama to avoid everything that George W. Bush did. Given the fact that Obama was nominated for the award in February, only a month after his inauguration, this reward is clearly very immature. Even if Obama would have been able to live up to expectations, he did not have enough time to realize his goals. However, Obama's domestic and international performance seems to lag behind his promises. In sharp contrast to his predecessor, he extended an olive branch to the Muslim world first in his speech in Ankara and then in Cairo. The Cairo speech was enthusiastically welcomed by the world. Yet, shortly after those steps, his approach to Guantanamo as well as the healthcare debate within the US led to disappointment, making people question his ability to “change” the status quo.
No matter how peaceful Obama's rhetoric sounds, it is worth questioning the accuracy of the decision of the Nobel committee since the US is a country which is at war in two fronts and seen as an unlawful occupier. For some, by making such an immature and questionable decision the committee undermined the prestige of the Nobel Prize. Clearly, the prize has lost some of its credibility.
Fortunately, Obama reacted to the prize wisely, acknowledging that he does not feel that he ‘‘deserves to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize.” More importantly, he stated that he accepts the award “as a call to action” which could help verify the belief in the common sense and wisdom of “the commander-in-chief” of the United States of America, as he identified himself in his acceptance remarks.
This mature response to the immature prize can at least serve as a “public contract” between the Obama administration and the international community for Obama to remain loyal to his promise of change. If nothing else, the Nobel Prize could become a useful tool because it will hopefully place an extra burden of responsibility on Obama's shoulders.
*Sevgi Akarçeşme is an independent analyst. For comments and questions, write to sevgistanbul@gmail.com.
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