Jonathan Powell, British diplomat and former Downing Street Chief of Staff under Tony Blair, has spent nearly two decades mediating between governments and terrorist organisations.

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. No conflict – however bloody, ancient or difficult – is insoluble.

I am an unlikely peacenik. I grew up in a military family, and I was involved in the decisions on all of Tony Blair’s wars. I do not think that war is always wrong: sometimes it is necessary to stop a dictator, prevent massive human-rights abuses, or expel an invader. But I have also seen that in the modern world, civil wars are the greatest threat to humanitarian security. 

Jonathan Powell spoke to Sean today.