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Great Hatred, Little Room: Making Peace in Northern Ireland Paperback – 2 April 2009
by
Jonathan Powell
(Author)
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Making peace in Northern Ireland was the greatest success of the Blair government, and one of the greatest achievements in British politics since the Second World War. In Jonathan Powell's masterly account we learn just how close the talks leading to the Good Friday agreement came to collapse and how the parties finally reached a deal.
Pithy, outspoken and precise, Powell, Tony Blair's chief of staff and chief negotiator, gives us that rarest of things, a true insider's account of politics at the highest level. He demonstrates how the events in Northern Ireland have valuable lessons for those seeking to end conflict in other parts of the world and shows us how the process of making peace is sometimes messy and often blackly comic.
- Print length368 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date2 April 2009
- ISBN-109780099523734
- ISBN-13978-0099523734
Product description
Review
Fascinating and fast-moving... an extraordinary book ― Observer
A powerful contribution to the history of Anglo-Irish relations ― Literary Review
A fascinating book. No-one else could provide such an insider's account, for he was the only one to be involved in the detail of every tortuous step ― Sunday Telegraph
Jonathan Powell has produced one of the half-dozen best books on the Troubles... He was the ultimate insider... Powell writes in a personal manner, with deft character sketches ― Independent
This is the best-informed rough draft of history so far written by someone who was on the roller-coaster ride to a settlement ― The Times
A powerful contribution to the history of Anglo-Irish relations ― Literary Review
A fascinating book. No-one else could provide such an insider's account, for he was the only one to be involved in the detail of every tortuous step ― Sunday Telegraph
Jonathan Powell has produced one of the half-dozen best books on the Troubles... He was the ultimate insider... Powell writes in a personal manner, with deft character sketches ― Independent
This is the best-informed rough draft of history so far written by someone who was on the roller-coaster ride to a settlement ― The Times
About the Author
After studying history at Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania, Jonathan Powell worked for the BBC and Granada TV before joining the Foreign Office in 1979. In 1994 Mr Blair, then Leader of the Opposition, poached him to join his `kitchen cabinet' as his Chief of Staff. When Labour achieved its landslide victory in 1997 Powell was at the heart of the Downing Street machine. He was the only senior member of staff to remain at Blair's side throughout his time at the top of British politics. He has always maintained a low profile and has never before told his story.
Product details
- ASIN : 0099523736
- Language : English
- Paperback : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780099523734
- ISBN-13 : 978-0099523734
- Customer reviews:
Customer reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
30 global ratings
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Top reviews from other countries
PickyFeet
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Overview of Northern Ireland Conflict ever
Reviewed in the United States on 4 October 2023Verified Purchase
Filled with insider insights and big picture overviews... Written for generalist, scholar, Irishman, and Brit alike. One of the best works of diplomacy/negotiation psychology I've ever read... Jason Pack
Robert Horn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Behind the Curtain
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2008Verified Purchase
The settlement of Northern Ireland's grinding conflict owes a lot to demographics; the old protagonists on both sides were tired and looking for a way out before the new generation took over. However it did take a new approach from the British and Irish governments to shift the logjam. Powell's book is well-written and drags laboriously through meeting after meeting that ended in failure as promises made in private were repudiated in public. He leaves many questions unanswered such as the secret information he was getting from inside the IRA that must have helped him evaluate what he was hearing from Adams and McGuinness. The different styles of the blunt but obdurate Unionists and ambiguous, articulate Republicans is fascinating. Powell drops frequent hints that he would like to take his undoubted skills to other areas of conflict but it was his innate understanding of the psychology of the British tribes that made him so effective as a negotiator. Human conflicts can only be resolved by understanding that the enemy is fundamentally acting in good faith. This is a very good book.
7 people found this helpful
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W Denis Hanley
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good book, however.......
Reviewed in the United States on 7 November 2019Verified Purchase
A fascinating read of the inner workings of the negotiations leading up to and after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Much is learned of the personalities, strengths and negotiating strategies and tactics of Adams, McGuinness, Trimble, Blair, Powell, Paisley et al.
A long while back I became conscious of the engrained hatred and suspicion the Unionist and British governments and their people have towards Ireland, its people and the Republican Movement. This book underscores and continues to promote and sustain these unwarranted traits. Case in point, Mr Powell never misses an opportunity to refer to Republicans as terrorists. Mr Powell does not seem to realize that if the Irish people of the north were treated overall as well as the Unionist people in the north, there would have never been a reason for the formation of the Provisionals, thus the Troubles/Conflict never having taken place and thus no need for a Good Friday Agreement.
The war was brought to the very doorsteps of Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness. They and others reacted in the only manner possible.
This is a good book and I recommend its reading.
A long while back I became conscious of the engrained hatred and suspicion the Unionist and British governments and their people have towards Ireland, its people and the Republican Movement. This book underscores and continues to promote and sustain these unwarranted traits. Case in point, Mr Powell never misses an opportunity to refer to Republicans as terrorists. Mr Powell does not seem to realize that if the Irish people of the north were treated overall as well as the Unionist people in the north, there would have never been a reason for the formation of the Provisionals, thus the Troubles/Conflict never having taken place and thus no need for a Good Friday Agreement.
The war was brought to the very doorsteps of Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness. They and others reacted in the only manner possible.
This is a good book and I recommend its reading.
JacquesZero
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great efforts in little rooms
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2023Verified Purchase
Jonathan Powell provides a fascinating insider view of the Northern Irish peace process. It's factual and workman-like rather than a literary masterpiece, but it does the job. What is striking from 2023 is the sheer hard graft and commitment of the Labour government of the day. It's a testament to what a well-led activist government with a clear agenda can accomplish despite the impediments. This has been lacking from UK politics for many years.
That's not meant to diminish the roles of the other key actors. Blair &Co might have acted as catalyst, but the heavy lifting and risk taking - intellectually and politically - was done by others.
My one criticism is I don't think the book gives enough credit to John Hume for his pivotal role in re-framing the problem: challenging the Republican conceptualisation of 'the troubles' as a fight against colonial oppression, and re-focusing instead on addressing the schism between the two communities within Northern Ireland itself. Hume's thinking underpinned the earlier attempt at power sharing at Sunningdale and John Major's 1993 'Downing Street Declaration' both of which were key building blocks for the GF/Belfast Agreement. In Seamus Mallon's immortal phrase the GFA really was 'Sunningdale for slow learners'.
Ultimately the process should probably be judged a highly qualified success. This book is a tribute to those involved and the colossal amount of time, effort and patience expended on all sides to try to find an acceptable solution. One can only hope similar levels of good will and commitment could be brought to bear on negotiations for a sustainable post-Brexit settlement.
That's not meant to diminish the roles of the other key actors. Blair &Co might have acted as catalyst, but the heavy lifting and risk taking - intellectually and politically - was done by others.
My one criticism is I don't think the book gives enough credit to John Hume for his pivotal role in re-framing the problem: challenging the Republican conceptualisation of 'the troubles' as a fight against colonial oppression, and re-focusing instead on addressing the schism between the two communities within Northern Ireland itself. Hume's thinking underpinned the earlier attempt at power sharing at Sunningdale and John Major's 1993 'Downing Street Declaration' both of which were key building blocks for the GF/Belfast Agreement. In Seamus Mallon's immortal phrase the GFA really was 'Sunningdale for slow learners'.
Ultimately the process should probably be judged a highly qualified success. This book is a tribute to those involved and the colossal amount of time, effort and patience expended on all sides to try to find an acceptable solution. One can only hope similar levels of good will and commitment could be brought to bear on negotiations for a sustainable post-Brexit settlement.
Brian40MK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting account behind the scenes of the peace process in Northern Ireland
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2013Verified Purchase
A riveting account of the exhausting and frustrating behind the scenes peace progress in Northern Ireland with excellent chapters on the history leading up to this momentous time in the history of Northern Ireland.
Perhaps what makes this account so interesting is that this account is from the perspective of a Civil Servant and not a politician, well worth a read.
Perhaps what makes this account so interesting is that this account is from the perspective of a Civil Servant and not a politician, well worth a read.
One person found this helpful
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