‘We do not negotiate with terrorists’ is the common public position of most governments faced with terrorist demands. But, in reality, is such an absolute position tenable or even desirable? Can negotiation save lives and bring about peaceful resolutions? Or are ceasefires a mistake which allow terrorists to rearm and regroup? And does talking to a terrorist faction give that group a legitimacy they would not otherwise have?
Jonathan Powell will present the case that governments usually delay talking to armed groups for too long and, as a result, a large number of people die unnecessarily. Powell will draw from a multitude of first-hand experience to analyse the various stages of successful mediation: from making contact with the organization and developing a reliable, private means of communication, through to establishing the circumstances in which formal negotiations can occur.
What are the lessons learned from the negotiations with groups such as the IRA, ETA and FARC? And can these lessons be applied in negotiations with newer groups who lack any clearly stated political goal, such as ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Taliban?
This event is now fully booked and registration has closed. A recording will be made available shortly after the event has taken place.
About Chatham House Forums
Each Chatham House Forum considers a question around an important contemporary debate in international affairs.
An expert speaker will offer a polemic in response - providing their answer to this question and outlining the key arguments that have convinced them of their position. The audience then have the chance to query and challenge the speaker’s views in a Q&A session during the second half of the event.
Each event will be followed by a reception with the speaker, allowing attendees to continue the conversation.
Participants
Jonathan Powell, CEO, Inter Mediate; Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tony Blair (1995-2007); Author, Talking to Terrorists
