大象传媒

Can or should you negotiate with insurgent groups? Professor David Rothkopf investigates.

Terrorism is a growing problem for diplomacy. Since it emerged as a political means in the 1970s, there have been constant debates about whether it is appropriate or desirable to engage in negotiations with groups who use violence to further their political causes.

Professor Rothkopf hears from Tony Blair and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, about why they decided to open up the peace process in Northern Ireland, leading to the Good Friday agreements.

Beyond the case of Northern Ireland, Jonathan Powell believes that one should always engage with one's political opponents. For Tony Blair, groups with religious and otherwordly aims can be more difficult to engage with successfully.

Professor Rothkopf also talks to psychologist and terrorism expert Anne Speckhard on the psychological profiles of terrorists, revealing that many suffer from PTSD and other traumas which are often overlooked. Could thinking of the perpetrators of violence through this lens make us more willing to negotiate with them?

A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in 2017.