The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is a resounding victory for the principles of non-violent resistance. By awarding the prize to María Corina Machado, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has celebrated a leader who has consistently advocated for peaceful change in the face of an authoritarian regime.
Machado’s work in Venezuela has been defined by her commitment to democratic processes. The committee recognized her success in unifying the opposition around the demand for free elections, a strategy that relies on civic participation rather than confrontation.
This stands in contrast to the more muscular foreign policy approach of Donald Trump, another top contender. While his supporters see his “peace through strength” philosophy as effective, it is philosophically distant from the non-violent traditions often honored by the Nobel prize.
The White House’s reaction to the news, which highlighted Trump’s “sheer force of will,” further underscored this difference. The language of force and power is very different from the language of peace and reconciliation that defines laureates like Machado.
Following in the footsteps of past winners like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, Machado’s prize reaffirms the Nobel committee’s enduring belief that the most powerful force for change is not the sword, but the peaceful, collective will of the people.