Talking to Terrorists
How to End Armed Conflicts
Published on 19. November 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
432 pages
978-0-09-957586-3 (ISBN)
Description
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*
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*
Reviews / Votes
Essential reading for all parties in conflict -- Patrick Cockburn * Independent * Fascinating -- Michael Ignatieff * Sunday Times * This is an inspiring book. You'll enter the New Year shaking hands with all. -- Kirsty Brimelow * The Times * This is an unusual, indeed a unique, book -- Oliver Miles * Guardian * The book is an enthralling case study of the art, in which Powell carefully establishes his argument for why dialogue with terror groups is usually necessary -- Anthony Loyd * New Statesman * It is a witty, light-footed, anecdote-rich history of the recent art of talking to terrorists -- Justin Webb * The Times * Thoughtful, well-structured, intelligent and well-informed -- Conor Gearty * Irish Times * Intelligent and insightful book on conflict resolution -- Andrew Lynch * Sunday Business Post *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
306 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-09-957586-3 (9780099575863)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2014
1st Edition
Vintage Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Person
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.
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.