Talking to Terrorists

From jungle clearings to stately homes and anonymous airport hotels, Talking to Terrorists puts us in the room with those who seek to change the course of history. Here are the terrorists, secret agents and go-betweens who make up the invisible world of negotiations between terrorists and governments. Across the world governments proclaim that they will never 'negotiate with evil'. And yet they always have done and always will. Why then do we ignore the lessons of this history of clandestine communication, often with devastating consequences? Jonathan Powell has spent nearly two decades mediating between governments and terrorist organisations. Here he argues that no conflict - however bloody, ancient or difficult - is insoluble. With attention to the lessons of the past, patience and above all political leadership, they can be solved, even where previous attempts have failed. Talking to terrorists will always be practically difficult and morally hazardous. But it is the right thing to do. Drawing on conflicts from Colombia and Sri Lanka to Palestine and South Africa, this optimistic, wide-ranging, authoritative book is about why we should and how best to go about it.

Across the world governments proclaim that they will never 'negotiate with evil'.

And yet they always have and always will.

From jungle clearings to stately homes and anonymous airport hotels, Talking to Terrorists puts us in the room with the terrorists, secret agents and go-betweens who seek to change the course of history.

Jonathan Powell has spent nearly two decades mediating between governments and terrorist organisations. Drawing on conflicts from Colombia and Sri Lanka to Palestine and South Africa, this optimistic, wide-ranging, authoritative book is about how and why we should talk to terrorists.

'Essential reading' Independent

'Fascinating' Sunday Times

Now includes a new Afterword - Talking to ISIL

Perfect for fans of The Looming Tower

Préface
An inside look at the subterranean exchanges that occur between governments and terrorist organisations.

Auteur

Jonathan Powell has spent half a lifetime talking to people and organisations labelled as terrorists.

He runs Inter Mediate, a London-based charity for negotiation and mediation that focuses on the most difficult, complex and dangerous conflicts, where other organisations are unable to operate.

In 1997 he met Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and became instrumental in negotiating peace in Northern Ireland. In 2008 he suggested publicly that western governments should open talks with the Taliban, Hamas and al-Qaeda. Today, he works on different armed conflicts around the world and is the UK Prime Minister's special envoy to Libya.

He is the author of two books, Great Hatred, Little Room and The New Machiavelli. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters.

Résumé
Across the world governments proclaim that they will never negotiate with evil . And yet they always have and always will. From jungle clearings to stately homes and anonymous airport hotels, Talking to Terrorists puts us in the room with the terrorists, secret agents and go-betweens who seek to change the course of history. Jonathan Powell has spent nearly two decades mediating between governments and terrorist organisations. Drawing on conflicts from Colombia and Sri Lanka to Palestine and South Africa, this optimistic, wide-ranging, authoritative book is about how and why we should talk to terrorists. Essential reading Independent Fascinating Sunday TimesNow includes a new Afterword - Talking to ISILPerfect for fans of The Looming Tower