Fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies across the globe, and advancing human rights and democracy through peace with a capital P.

The criteria set out by the Nobel Peace Prize committee is not to be sniffed at. Drawn from Alfred Nobel’s will in 1895 and first awarded in 1901, the highest humanitarian honour has, as of this month, been awarded to a total of 143 laureates throughout history.

Nobel necessitated that the prize be given to an individual – or organisation – who conferred the ‘greatest benefit to humanity’, often in being a proponent of peace as a counterbalance to the destructive power of his own inventions.

Having patented dynamite in 1867 as the first safely manageable explosive, Alfred Nobel watched on as his revolutionary invention broke new ground within the mining and construction industries, only to be later adapted on the battlefield with deadly effect. A military move that led to him being dubbed the ‘Merchant of Death’ in a premature obituary.

In some ways, Nobel was to the 19th century what Robert Oppenheimer was to the 20th: a scientist and inventor whose explosive creation left its architect grappling with the moral consequences when scientific progress and military application become too closely intertwined. Oppenheimer believed initially that the atomic bomb would be hailed as the ultimate deterrent; dynamite, on the other hand, became Nobel’s enduring legacy that would eventually spark a yearly celebration of humanity’s greatest achievements. Peace born out of destruction.

The history books tell us Nobel’s regret quickly spun outward, leading to him dedicating more than 90 percent of his dynamite-fuelled fortune to finance the Nobel Peace Prizes as we know them today.

Honourees and pioneers, the winners list is about as decorated as they come: Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, and Malala Yousafzai, to name but a few. Closer to home, in the 1970s Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams were co-recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize as leading proponents for peace during the Troubles, while John Hume and David Trimble later won in 1998 for their pivotal roles in the eventual process that brought about an end to the Northern Ireland conflict.

New to the peace pantheon this year is Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela. Leader of the country’s opposition party, Machado was chosen by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for her ‘tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela, and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy’.

An embodiment of civilian courage, Machado had been barred from running for president by the Venezuelan courts in her pursuit of ending a 12-year presidential rule viewed by many as illegitimate. In a media release, the Nobel committee wrote that Machado has shown the ‘tools of democracy are also the tools of peace’. A deserved winner, then.

Yet there was another name that threatened to loom large over 2025’s ceremony. Another self-declared candidate not known for his subtlety or grace in defeat: President Trump. The US leader has long lobbied to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the individual accolade seen by critics as the true driving force behind recent diplomatic efforts in both Gaza and Ukraine.

The timing is certainly conspicuous, with the ceasefire in Gaza coming into effect on the very same day the Nobel Committee announced its selection. Yet Trump’s strong-armed approach never truly aligned with the committee timeline, with their final meeting having taken place days prior.

Reaction out of the Oval Office was that, in choosing Machado over MAGA, the Nobel committee had placed ‘politics over peace’. Credit to Machado, then, for calling Trump soon after accepting the award and, in a deferential tribute, devoted her win to the US President. An act that, if nothing else, can be appreciated for encouraging fraternity between nations. A defining criterion for the humanitarian honour, after all.

Beyond peace, the different Nobel disciplines always worth looking at through a local lens include the prize for Economics. Last year, a trio of researchers won for their work in demonstrating how a country’s long-term success can prosper via inclusive institutions. Where political power is more broadly distributed and economic opportunities open and available to all. The research delves deep into the vast prosperity gaps between nations, particularly on the frontier of sustainable development. Something that policymakers locally can look to as a means of illuminating pathways for positive change.

A Nobel prize stands alone as the world’s most prestigious award, championing exceptional individuals and organisations for a century and more. Recognition is always important, yet long-lasting change requires a constant drive for better. This year and every year. To deliver the rich benefits for all humanity that the Nobel Committee values so highly.