Sample Activity:
Nobel Peace Prize Candidate Nomination

Criteria for Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

1. By the language of Alfred Nobel’s will, the Nobel Peace Prize may be awarded annually to a person(s) or organization(s) who has(have) done the most or the best work within the past year for building fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and/or for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.
2. No more than three recipients in a given year.
3. Cannot be a previous recipient.
4. Must be living, no prizes are awarded posthumously.

Considerations for Deliberation

• Consider how the nominee fulfills the criteria of Nobel’s will.
• Consider how the nominee has been championed by other voices, particularly ones beyond the borders of the nominee’s home county.
• Consider how the nominee represents more than just their efforts in their political context. For example, while the 2024 prize to Nihon Hidankyo focused on an effort to eliminate nuclear weapons, it also championed anyone who has been victimized to courageously share their painful story, realizing that such firsthand testimony holds persuasive power.

• Consider meritorious actions from the preceding year as the prize presented in December celebrates accomplishments from the previous year.

  Example: the 2024 committee could only consider nominees made by January 31, 2024. Nominees for the 2024 prize would have done the majority of the work in 2023 and in preceding years. The 2025 prize will be determined by foundational work achieved prior to January 31, 2025.

• Consider the geographic location of the previous recipient; it is unlikely that back-to-back awards will go to someone from the same region.
• Consider the subject matter championed by the previous recipient; it is unlikely that back-to-back awards will go to the same, or similar, cause.
• Consider individuals who were strong contenders from previous years who maintain momentum.
• Consider how the prize could help the recipient move their cause forward through the prestigious recognition they would receive.

Submission Logistics & Timing

1. All nominations must be submitted to the Norwegian Nobel Institute.

   *Who can nominate:

   • Heads of state/governments
   • Past winners
   • Members past and present of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
   • University professors (must have "full" professor status) or professors emeriti of history, law, philosophy, theology and/or religion, or the rector of the university
2. The nomination deadline for each year is January 31 at 12 midnight CET.
   
3. While the actual nomination can be any length, for reputation’s sake, the nominator should make a case for the nominee that demonstrates the depth of research and deliberation the students undertook in their final determination.

Steps in actively Engaging Students in a Nomination Process

• Study past recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize so students will appreciate that their nominee will potentially join this august cohort of luminaries.
• Have students prepare a one-to-two-page justification, with supporting documentation, that their chosen candidate merits consideration for recognition by receiving a Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Include a discussion of the nominee’s achievements.
  • Include external validation for the nominee from additional reputable sources.
• Link the nominee’s work to the criteria established for the award by Nobel in his will.
• Assemble the list of nominees and have students vote to narrow the list down to the “top three.”
• Have students create a position paper two -three pages, that champions their top choice between the three candidates.
  • Put students into groups of like-minded champions for a given nomination.
  • Afford each group 10 minutes for a Ted-Talk style presentation of their case.
• After the presentations take a straw vote to see if anyone has changed their positions.
  • Consider eliminating the candidate with the lowest support and repeat the process with the top two candidates.
• Once a candidate has been chosen, arrange for a public announcement ceremony.
• Have students draft an initial nomination letter and share that document with the qualified individual who will actually submit the nomination.*