Norwegians Award Nobel Peace Prize to EU

On Oct. 12 the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced its 2012 Peace Prize will go to the European Union. The unconventional choice was applauded by some and angered others, creating a maelstrom of media coverage and commentary, including articles in the New York Times, CNN and the Atlantic.

Given that Norway has opted to stay out of the union, many commentators were quick to point out the irony of the choice, like this tweet from Slate.com on the day of the announcement:

Norway loves the EU enough to give it the Nobel Prize, but not to be part of it: slate.me/RmaiYh
— Slate (@Slate) October 12, 2012

Do you agree with the Norwegian committee's choice? Should the EU be recognized for bringing peace and stability to Europe, or is the Nobel committee propping up the union during a difficult time? I'd love to hear your opinion, either here or by emailing vikingeditor@mspcustomcontent.com.

Regardless of the controversy of this year's award, few would argue with the fact that the prize is awarded by a Norwegian committee, since Norway is recognized around the globe as a leader in peacemaking. Want to learn more about it? Stay tuned as we explore Norway's peacemaking efforts, foreign policy, and aid abroad in the December issue of Viking.

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minn., where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585.