Why Did President Obama Win the Nobel Peace Prize?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 24, 2020

Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation. Two of the specific areas noted by the Nobel Committee were his support for nuclear disarmament and the “new climate” in relations between the Muslim world and the West.

The committee also noted Obama’s commitment to acting as a spokesperson for human rights and democracy. Additionally, his strong position on climate change was an aspect in the decision. Some critiqued the Nobel Committee for giving Obama the prize within the first year of his presidency, and Obama himself acknowledged the “profound issue” of giving the Peace Prize to the commander-in-chief of a nation at war during his acceptance speech.