Henry Kissinger
In the field of peace studies, Johan Galtung has divided peace idea into two concepts; positive and negative peace. Positive peace is the fight to establish systems and/or a structure that will prevent conflict and violence in the future. Negative peace, on the other hand, is the concept of stopping what has already been started. Many figures throughout history have been advocates of both types of peace (Galtung, 5). Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State during Nixon’s term as president, found himself on the negative peace side of the table. Kissinger, as Secretary of State, was very active in negotiations and peace fighting during the Vietnam War. This paper will uncover the complication around Kissinger and the Nobel Peace Prize, as well as, contemplate the question of how much can one man do?
Henry Kissinger, born in the 20s, grew up familiar with war. He was a son of a German family who moved out of Germany before WWII. Kissinger, unlike his family, returned back to Germany. This time to fight for the Americans during WWII. After the war, Kissinger spent the next 10-15 years of his life building a resume that included becoming a Harvard graduate, a college professor, a consultant for National Security Commission, and eventually Secretary of State in 1973. Kissinger’s experiences and background groomed him into the foreign policy expert that he is known to be.
Henry Kissinger had to take action quickly as Secretary of State in 1973. During that year, the United States was still participating in almost a twenty-year war with Vietnam. Kissinger, along with Le Duc Tho, was set to settle tensions with the rest of the world at the Paris Peace Conference. Fighting with the Vietnamese, branded the United States as a bully. Kissinger, being Secretary of State, entered into the role with the objective of stopping the war. In the next year after coming into office, Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize during time of war, came as a huge shock for a large population of people. The award was presented to Kissinger and his accomplice (Le Duc Tho) for the negotiation of a cease-fire act implemented at the Paris Peace Conference in January of 1973. Which, by law/contract, should have stopped the war in Vietnam. In an article from the NY Times written after the announcement of the prize, the author stated, the 1973 prize would be the most controversial since conception in 1901. In the same article, Senator George McGovern, was quoted and said: “I would give the Nobel prize to the men who warned against this tragic conflict, not those who came in to clean up the wreckage after the accident” (New York Times). This quote shows the controversy surrounding Henry Kissinger. Senator McGovern is calling out Kissinger for the sluggish enactment of the cease-fire act. Also, the Senator, sided with majority of the population who was now protesting the war in Vietnam.
After McGovern’s comments and the announcement of the prize, Kissinger was able to explain his views on peace to the whole world. Unable to accept his prize in person, he had someone read his remarks aloud. Kissinger had a few main points from his speech. He first defined his idea of peace: “Peace, the ideal, must be practiced. A sense of responsibility and accommodation must guide the behavior of all nations” (Kissinger). Then, he issued a call: “peace, the experience, must be our common practice. For this to be so, the leaders of all nations must remember that their political decisions of war or peace are realized in the human suffering or well-being of their people” (Kissinger). Kissinger is turning the finger away from himself and towards ‘the politicians’ who got us in this war. In the United States, people did not accept his remarks with open arms. In an article from the NY Times published after his speech, Kissinger, was called a politician, a hypocrite, and an actor (Reston). It was clear to the world that if Kissinger was serious about his ideals. The world saw Kissinger as one of ‘the politicians’ that he calls out in his speech.
The complication that is Henry Kissinger can be summed by this quote from James Reston: “Mr. Kissinger knows the difference between being a protected adviser to Mr. Nixon in the White House, dealing with one question at a time, and being Secretary of State, where he has to speak and then be available to explain the difference between his speeches and his policies” (Reston). One man can only do so much. One man can only change so much. For humans, the mystery that will continue, is are we what we say? Or, are what we do?
Bibliography:
Galtung, Johan. Positive and Negative Peace. School of Social Science, Auckland University of Technology. August 30, 2003.
Kissinger, Henry. Acceptance Speech for Nobel Peace Prize. ‘Henry Kissinger Acceptance Speech.’ Olso, Norway. December 10, 1973.
Reston, James. Kissinger’s ‘New Vision’: The New York Times. David Leonhardt. September 26, 1973.
Kissinger and Tho win Nobel Prize for Vietnam Pact’: The New York Times. David Leonhardt. October 17, 1973.