A Nobel Prize for a Noble Vision

In a World obsessed by performance, results and efficiency, it is not difficult to see why this prize has quickly become disturbing for many. But think about it, the Nobel Prize’s goal is to acknowledge a significant contribution to Peace by an individual or an organisation. Mr Obama didn’t achieve many ’hard’ results yet but one has to acknowledge the dramatic changes that have already happened in the past few months: a return to multilateral policies; a commitment to fight climate change; a more balanced position in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and a quite surprising pledge for a World without nuclear weapons - which by the way gives more credibility and weight to the West’s diplomacy in the Iran nuclear crisis. Mr Obama’s positions are also helping to relieve some of the resentment felt in the developing World against the West and the USA in particular. Doing so in 9 months after 8 years of George W Bush’s leadership is by itself remarkable. But is it enough? Would it have been enough if anybody else had done the same? Probably not.

However the truth is that Mr Obama is not anybody, he is leading the sole World Superpower. This means his words and commitments in the areas I cited before have more impact towards stability and peace than, say, tangible actions from the UK or France. After all, a sneeze of fear made the USA leadership send young men and women in Irak. If a sneeze from Mr Bush can create a war, why not accept the idea that words from Mr Obama can indeed promote Peace?

Mr Obama’s words are giving hope to millions of people around the World, because everyone knows that major issues just cannot be sorted out without the support of the US leadership. It’s Mr Obama’s vision that has been awarded the Nobel Prize. Although results are indeed what counts in the end, the right vision is always the starting point to any real change. Hyper-obsession with results and performance without vision left us with a cynical World without dreams and hope, a World suddenly fragile and fearful, protecting short term individual interests, a World that has effectively become more dangerous. Vision changes minds, brings people together around a common project, common objectives, and gives them real hope. Setting the right vision has to be the first step towards any decisive societal transformation, because real transformation cannot be achieved without people’s understanding and involvement. Mr Obama’s vision is not a breakthrough, it is not original, but the difference is that he has the power to realise it in the years to come. This is a unique position, and this is why he should be encouraged for it.

The Nobel Prize was awarded to encourage the President in his difficult and courageous - particularly in his own country - diplomatic turnaround. Yes, results will have to come, but judging by the somewhat cynical criticism read in the papers it feels the Prize and its encouragement couldn’t be more timely for a man who’s increasingly alone. Alone because he’s the only one to fully acknowledge the immense power of dreams.