The 2025 Nobel Prizes:
Sparkles of Sustainability
Part II -- Social
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The Nobel Peace Prize: Social Leadership Rising from the Ashes
Source：https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org
"The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 goes to a brave and committed champion of peace – to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness." --www.nobelpeaceprize.org
On 10 October 2025, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Peace in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2025, more known as the Nobel Peace Prize 2025, to Maria Corina Machado for her influential and moving contributions towards a more demographic Venezuela. Her work, while political, is basically about fighting for peace, stability, and human rights -- a precondition for sustainable growth.
Democracy, Unity, and Advocacy
For over two decades, through her organization Súmate, Machado has championed "ballots over bullets" -- as she said -- which is the ultimate form of stakeholder participation. Ensuring that every citizen has a voice is the bedrock of social equity.
When her own voting and participation right was hindered by the authority, Machado did not retreat. Instead, she demonstrated exceptional leadership and selflessness, prioritizing collective goal over personal needs. Her experiences are crucial in building inclusive communities and fostering social unity.
By publicizing the true election results in the face of a regime that "refused to accept the outcome," Machado and her supporters engaged in whistleblowing, even if that might put their survivals into threat, prioritizing truth over their own safety. Those who speak truth to power is essential for identifying and rectifying social injustices.
More Than Profit: Social Responsibility in Sustainability
Among environmental, social, and governmental metrics, the 'S' can sometimes be the most challenging to define and measure due to its comprehensiveness and abstractness. Yet, the announcement of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize provides a powerful case study of true social leadership. Just as a building cannot stand without a foundation, economic activity cannot be sustainable without social justice, rule of law, and respect for human rights. Machado's story shows that leadership is about more than profit: true social leadership requires courage and a commitment to principles, even at personal cost.
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Another lesson derived from Machado is that “the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace”. The tools of democracy—transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation—are also the tools of long-term, stable economic prosperity. They create an environment where businesses can confidently invest and innovate.
Time: 2025.10.18
Editor: Tian. Qiu