Peace Prize Stirring Up Conflict

This week in class we've been talking about a slave's nonexistant right to speak up against his or her master. It might be a stretch to connect these two topics, but in China speaking up against the government is also a reason for punishment. Liu Xiaobo was imprisoned on a ten year sentence in China for attempting to spread democratic ideals. It was also announced last week that he won the Nobel Peace prize for this year. 


To put it lightly, the Chinese government is furious. They have made public statements saying that this may ruin their relationship with Norway (the country where the Nobel Prizes are based). Was it right to reward a prisoner, even though he was imprisoned for something that is not against the law in Norway? Should Chinese laws have been honored in this situation?The country already has firm advocates of reform to their communist system, and the prize will undoubtedly give Xiaobo many more supporters, possibly posing a threat to the Chinese Communist government. Is Norway meddling in China's business, or was it their right to give the Nobel Prize Xiaobo?

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