Nobel Peace Prize: recognition or politics?

Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls’ right to education, and Indian children’s  right activist Kailash Satyarthi were awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.
 
In recent years the Nobel prize committee has made some controversial decision on those who were awarded the peace prize. President Barack Obama, Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are few examples.
 
So, on what basis does the Nobel committee pick those who are awarded its highest honour? And are there political motivations behind the selection?
 
Presenter: Fauziah Ibrahim 
 
Guests:
 
Geir Lundestad – Director at The Norwegian Nobel Institute and Secretary for the Norwegian Nobel Committee
 
Fredrik Heffermehl – Author of  The Nobel Peace Prize: What Nobel Really Wanted

Kristian Berg Harpviken – Director of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo