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According to Alfred Nobel's original intent the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to the person or group who 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'. The peace prize committee has since its original distribution expanded the definition of peace to include righteous social, economic or environmental action that has brought the committee its share of criticism. Even worse the peace price has previously been distributed to controversial laureates such as Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root and Hendry Kissing, and the infamous dictators Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin have received a nomination. L. Pitkaniemi

Discusses how the importance of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) has increased over the years for anthropologist, sociologist, political scientists and economist especially in the realm of war and peace research. Many things in NUPI have changed over the years -- among them increased journal publications and a more visible international role. L. Pitkaniemi

Klep, Christ, Somalië, Rwanda, Srebrenica. De nasleep van drie ontspoorde vredesmissies (Dissertatie Utrecht 2008; Amsterdam: Boom, 2008, 385 blz., ISBN 978 90 8506 668 2)When the Home Front meets Foreign Parts. The Aftermath of Commissions of Inquiry into derailed Peace MissionsPeace Missions take place in difficult and volatile circumstances. It is therefore hardly surprising that some peace missions become 'derailed'. Christ Klep zooms in on three 'derailed' missions in his book and focuses on the value of Commissions of Inquiry which are subsequently set up as a result of public and political pressure. Do they succeed in revealing the 'how' and the 'why' of such derailments and – above all – identifying those who are responsible? Based on a broad spectrum of questions and extensive source materials, Klep concludes that 'the number of escape routes from the labyrinth of responsibility is practically infinite'; a clear message for all those taking part in international and domestic politics. It is here that the author skillfully and expertly succeeds: exposing the complex entanglement of domestic and foreign policy, even concerning events that sometimes happen away from the capital city.

Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the Chinese democracy activist Liu Xiaobo was received well internationally, but also raised a fair amount of criticism. Even if giving the peace prize to a democracy activist is more in line with Alfred Nobel's original intent than giving it to an environmentalist, Mr. Xiaobo is also undermining the Chinese stability and therefore threatening the country's internal peace. Some critics have also argued that the Nobel committee went again after a popular media personality, whose selection is not going to change the direction of a large populous country. Another problem is that the Nobel peace prize committee consists of Norwegian politicians and therefore the award is often seen as an extension of Norwegian foreign policy. L. Pitkaniemi

An interview with Geir Lundestad, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Professor of History, and Author. Lundestad answers questions about his academic career and his position as Director of the Nobel Institute. The role of the individual as a catalyst for peace is addressed. There is a discussion about the candidate selection process of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, for which Lundestad compiles a list of candidates, and about the Committee's definition of peace. Lundestad discusses the inception of the concept "empire by invitation," for which he is internationally recognized. Lundestad will be releasing a new book, "Just Another Major Crisis? The United States and Europe since 2000," which focus on the war in Iraq and its impact on transatlantic relations. E. Sundby

Klep, Christ, Somalië, Rwanda, Srebrenica. De nasleep van drie ontspoorde vredesmissies (Dissertatie Utrecht 2008; Amsterdam: Boom, 2008, 385 blz., ISBN 978 90 8506 668 2).ResponseThe validity of my comparative approach (Somalia-Rwanda-Srebrenica) still stands, in my opinion. At the level of political responsibility and the process of coming to terms with events, the similarities are stronger than the differences. My estimation that the Inquiry reports were 'hijacked' by almost all of the stakeholders involved (especially the Canadian, Belgian and Dutch governments) is more of a matter of fact and a political reality than a reproach that ought to have legal implications. Finally, the question of how far the three governments that were involved learned lessons from the three affairs is difficult to answer. Was it not also the wider developments (for example, the switch from the 'blue' missions to the more robust 'green' missions) that compelled the lessons to be drawn out?

Discusses the Nobel Peace Prize committee's motivations behind Barak Obama's laureateship and the criticism this seemingly premature decision bought the committee. It is hard to evaluate whether the peace prize has helped or hindered Obama's task, but the Whitehouse originally expressed concerns over it. Internationally the prize gave Norway the impression of being a country full of reality removed idealists. L. Pitkaniemi

A large contrast between European Union and the United States still exists when it comes to how the countries influence the world. Whereas the United States is still obsessed with military might, Europe's focus is on economic, cultural and legitimate influence. In the early 20th century it would have been almost impossible to imagine millions of peaceful Europeans demonstrate against a foreign war, but in the early 21st century it is commonplace. Many authors have argued that this change was caused by developments in weapon technology, democratization of the continent, and realization that war is primitive. A theory developed by James Sheehan argues that wars ended due to developmental historic conditions. For example, democracy allows both the war mobilization of the whole population, but it also gives them the opportunity to vote for peace. L. Pitkaniemi