Barack Obama: Did Racism Win Him The Nobel Peace Prize?

The Nobel Peace Prize is supposed to be awarded to the person who, “during the preceding year has done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”. And, as we all now know, it has been won by Barak Obama.

In the past year Mr. Obama has had his inauguration. This was met with celebration around the world, as much for America finally having a black president as their finally getting rid of George Bush Jr. He’s set out plans to radically change the system of health care in the USA. He’s approved projects to improve the transport and education of the USA and seen the country through some of the most difficult economic times we have ever known.

So far, he’s been a very good president and has performed remarkably through a tough political climate. But none of this is work for fraternity between nations. None of this reduces standing armies. To find out about that we need to look at his foreign policies. So lets see the situation there:

Iraq

There remains a huge force of US troops stationed in Iraq, who stay there to maintain the peace because the country could not be run in a stable and democratic manner without them. Now Barak Obama has made statements in Iraq, and it’s a major decision; he will withdraw most US troops by August 2010 with all troops having withdrawn by 2011.

If Iraq remains in the situation it is in at the moment, he leaves the country to fend for itself at a time when the Iraqi people are unable to do so and with no infrastructure in their country to help them. There’s no easy answers to the problems in Iraq but US and allied troops there are one of the stabilising forces in the country. Withdrawing cannot make it any harder for terrorism to take hold there once again.

Afghanistan

News that Obama is sending another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan is well documented and the US Defence Secretary, Mr. Robert Gates, has stated that the “US will not abandon Afghanistan”. The hope is that the US troops will be able to safely withdraw by 2015, but that seems a very optimistic goal. Even if it can be achieved, US and NATO forces are set to be stationed in Afghanistan for the long haul.

Pakistan

The US is increasing political pressure on the Pakistan government. With al-Qaeda believed to be hiding in the tribal regions of northern Pakistan the political situation is tense. While US troops are not in Pakistan at the moment, it does not seem inconceivable that this is a possibility if the leaders of al-Qaeda are not captured or if they should gain influence in Pakistan.

I’m not suggesting that Barak Obama is doing anything wrong with his foreign policy in any of these countries, but to me, this does not seem like a person who has done the best work for fraternity between nations, or abolished or reduced standing armies. Take the Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba, one of the other candidates, for example. She runs Colombians For Peace and went into great personal danger, risking her life in an attempt to end the fights between Farc and the government. She stands for and actively works towards peace.

So what has won Barak Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize? What counteracts the standing armies of the US and commitment to deploy more troops? It can only be race. Symbolically the first black president of the USA proves that the color of your skin does not matter to what you can achieve in America. It gives hope for the fight against racism and that in itself spells for a more peaceful world.

Racism is something that will follow President Obama’s career, especially with accolades like this. While we celebrate that the fight against racism is being won, there is racism inherent celebrating the colour of his skin and it remains a form of prejudice. Regardless of his achievements as president, it is likely that Barak Obama will be remembered and celebrated most of all for being a black president.