The Nobel Peace Prize, born from Alfred Nobel's 1895 will, is unique among the Nobel awards. Unlike the STEM prizes awarded in Stockholm by Swedish scientific institutions for a concrete discovery, the Peace Prize is selected by a committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and awarded in Oslo for broad work in "fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

The annual announcement of the Nobel Prizes captures global attention, but none is watched with as much political intensity and controversy as the Nobel Peace Prize. This has been especially true recently, given the very public efforts by the current US President, Donald Trump, to claim the award for his role in brokering international agreements. Trump has frequently asserted that his diplomatic initiatives, particularly in the Middle East and other conflict zones, make him a deserving recipient of an honor he believes he has been wrongly denied in the past. This highly politicized campaigning for the award only serves to underscore the fundamental distinction of the Peace Prize: unlike its scientific counterparts, it honors a subjective, moral, and often political ideal rather than a quantifiable, objective discovery. Established by the 1895 will of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, the creator of dynamite, the Peace Prize has a unique structure that separates it entirely from the scientific and academic accolades.

A Separate Mandate and Geographic Home

The primary difference between the Nobel Peace Prize and its scientific siblings—Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology or Medicine—lies in its mandate and geography. The scientific prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, by Swedish institutions like the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Karolinska Institutet. The Peace Prize, however, is decided and presented in Oslo, Norway.

This unique geographic split was explicitly detailed in Alfred Nobel's will. The Peace Prize is selected by a five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee, appointed by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting). While Nobel never fully explained his choice, many historians believe he sought a non-Swedish body that would be less susceptible to Swedish political pressures when adjudicating matters of war and peace.

The mandate is equally distinct. Nobel decreed that the award should go to the person who "shall have 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." This broad, humanitarian, and political focus contrasts sharply with the scientific awards, which are dedicated to honoring the most important "discovery or invention" in a specific academic field.

Subjective Merit vs. Concrete Discovery

The most profound difference is in the nature of the achievement being recognized. The Nobel Prizes in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) are rooted in empirical evidence. They are given for a single, concrete discovery that has withstood the test of time, often decades after the initial breakthrough, ensuring its verified impact on science.

The Peace Prize, conversely, is inherently more subjective and often immediate. It recognizes an effort toward an ideal, rewarding work in:

• Human Rights Advocacy
• Democracy Promotion
• Peace Negotiations and Conflict Resolution
• Humanitarian Work

Unlike the other prizes, which are limited to a maximum of three individuals, the Peace Prize can be awarded to either an individual or an organization (like the United Nations or the Red Cross). The selection process is thus less about judging verifiable data and more about making a profound moral and political statement about the state of the world, which is why the winners often spark such intense debate and why the committee's choice is seen as a statement on current events. The STEM prizes honor technical excellence; the Peace Prize honors human endeavor toward a peaceful world.