Hello
Gentle Reader
Lars
Heikensten, the Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation, has once again
opened up about the Swedish Academy and its crisis, and what the Nobel Foundation
will do in the event the Swedish Academy chooses to induct its planned two
laureates in two-thousand and nineteen, even if it doesn’t restore confidence
with the public. Lars Heikensten has made it quite clear that the Swedish
Academy, work on restoring faith and trust with the public, become more
transparent, before considering future Nobel Laureates; or in the event the
Swedish Academy continues to act in its current matter, and still choose two
Nobel Laureates in two-thousand and nineteen, the Nobel Foundation will refuse
to relinquish the prize money of 9 million Swedish Krona (which is $1.3 million
Canadian or just over $1 million American; or € 879,089.64 (Euro) or £ 777,358.94
(Pound)).
In
doing so, Lars Heikensten, hopes it makes it quite clear to the Swedish Academy
that reform is not optional, it is necessary; and a failure to make sufficient adjustments
to itself as an organization as well as a Nobel endorsed organization, would
risk the Nobel Prize for Literature’s reputation being further tarnished.
Previously, Lars Heikensten, had made it quite clear there was no deadline for
two-thousand and nineteen for the Nobel Prize for Literature, at which point he
encouraged the Swedish Academy, to instead seek to reform and getting its own affairs
in order, before considering announcing any future Nobel Laureates. In these
following statements, Mr. Heikensten is making it quite clear that if the
Swedish Academy fails to reform, the Nobel Foundation will utilize its own soft
power and authority, to encourage the academy’s adjustments, which may mean
withholding the prize money.
The
remaining members of the Swedish Academy are currently on summer break, but the
crisis still boils to the surface now and again. An alternative Nobel Prize for
Literature has been created by other Swedish Intellectuals and public
personalities (though I consider this more satirical then serious), and there
have been calls and protests that the remaining members of the Swedish Academy
resign, as well as three former prominent members demand the resignation of
Horace Engdahl, and Sara Danius entertaining and publicly encouraging the idea
that all siting members of the Swedish Academy resign. There has been no word
lately, as to what reforms and amendments the remaining members of the Swedish
Academy have inducted. In this, Lars Heikensten, sees an issue with the
Swedish Academy and the rest of the world is a lack of transparency, honesty,
and communication. When the crisis initially erupted (due to poor internal
governance) the Swedish Academy was incapable of acting in a public relations
matter with the outside world, and fumbled terribly, which led to the members
fighting amongst themselves and eventually public resignations; before the King
of Sweden changed the statutes, to allow members to actually resign, and have
the empty seats filled. With regards to their public scandal and lack of
coherent and unified communication Lars Heikensten is encouraging the Swedish
Academy to become more open to the outside world, while not violating the
statutes and the will of Alfred Nobel; but it must be prepared to answer (in a
unified response) to the queries and concerns of the outside world, and not
dissent publicly, as we’ve seen during these past few months.
As
for finding an alternative institution to award the Nobel Prize for Literature,
Mr. Heikensten had commented that there were legal issues, and reaffirmed both
he and the Nobel Foundation, wished to see the Swedish Academy, continue to the
award the Nobel Prize for Literature, but once again reiterated they must
restore confidence in the people, they must become transparent, and they must
reform their internal structure to ensure they are able to mitigate and ensure
no future crisis’s of this magnitude ever erupt again; which will mean the
Swedish Academy needs to tighten its conflict of interest policies, and ensure
the statute of confidentiality and secrecy remain unbroken—which the previous
crisis had declared: both were broken by: Katarina Frostenson; who it should be
added has yet to vacate her seat officially from the Swedish Academy, and whose
husband has also been formally charged with the rape.
Still
no word on whether or not the Swedish Academy has taken any immediate steps
towards reconciliation and reformation. All the world knows is the academy has
revised its statutes of appointment for life, to allow members to now officially
resign, which four seats now sit vacant; and four members remain inactive: Sara
Danius (former Permanent Secretary, and casualty of the crisis), Peter Englund
(former Permanent Secretary), Kjell Espmark, and Katarina Frostenson. This also
means, no new members can be inducted at this time, meaning the Swedish Academy
is short the necessary members to hold a quorum and come to a consensus on any
future Nobel Prize for Literature Laureate. Yet, no word from the Swedish
Academy or it’s pro tempore Permanent Secretary, on the fate of the Swedish
Academy and its reforms; or how it will conduct its future business and
dealings, while being short the necessary members.
Lars
Heikensten’s, words are not solely directed at the Swedish Academy, but at all
Nobel awarding institutions. With the rise of populism, criticism of media,
questions with regards to journalist integrity, and the integrity of
information, as well as how information is communicated, Lars Heikensten warns
that all institutions with the relation to the Nobel Prize, must act
accordingly and transparently to ensure the reputation of the awards are never
tarnished or jeopardized, and remain pillars of human endeavors and ideals; and
never slip or fall into scandal or grounds of simple competition.
As
for the fate of the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Swedish Academy, it’s anyone’s
game at this time about what awaits both the award and the institution. My
personal opinion as it stands is perhaps it is best for the members of the
Swedish Academy ultimately resign, considering their previous displays of public disagreements,
and lack of internal governance; at which point a fresh faced academy will
begin to rebuild the reputation of both the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Prize
for Literature. In such times, it is best when all parties understand that
personal benefit is best put aside, in favour of the more meaningful symbols
and organizations, such as the Nobel Prizes.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M.
Mary
For
Further Reading, please see the two following articles from the Financial Times, where Lars Heikensten
discusses the crisis’s of the Nobel Prizes, and what it means to work for the
Nobel Prize Foundation:
Nobel Prize in literature at risk of another postponement
Nobel Foundation’s Lars Heikensten: dealing with crises
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