Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates and global affairs publication Foreign Policy recently announced that season four of “The Negotiators” podcast is now available to the general public.
Originally launched as a Wondery+ exclusive in May this year, the season examines 20 years of failed negotiations in Afghanistan through the lens of one vexing question: Why have some of the smartest and most experienced negotiators from around the world consistently fallen short in brokering a peace deal?
Journalists who have covered Afghanistan over the years share their insights via interviews with key negotiators and mediators, vivid scripted narrative, and conversations with host Jenn Williams, Foreign Policy’s deputy editor. Reporters include Soraya Lennie, Andrew North, Sebastian Walker, Ali Latifi, Shirin Jaafari, and Ashley Jackson.
Titled “The Afghan Impasse,” the seven-episode arc begins with a look at the immediate aftermath of the US invasion in 2001. Subsequent episodes focus on other key negotiation phases: The diplomacy undertaken by the Obama administration; the formal talks that produced a limited agreement in 2020; the contracts between the Afghan government and the Taliban ahead of the US withdrawal; and the ad-hoc negotiations during the chaos of the pullout.
The final episode looks at lessons learned over the course of two decades, exploring why these negotiations have posed such a significant challenge and what the international community should do about the Taliban today.
Amjad Atallah, managing director of Doha Debates, said: “In a world where so many conflicts are resolved with violence, ‘The Negotiators’ continues to highlight the unsung heroes who do their best to resolve conflict through mediation. Our fourth season grapples with what happens when mediators are not able to reach an accord—specifically, over two decades of unsuccessful talks with Afghanistan. What can we learn and apply in the future? We’re fortunate to continue our partnership with Foreign Policy to explore the valuable efforts of all the negotiators who have worked—and continue to work—to bring peace to Afghanistan.”
Executive Editor for podcasts at Foreign Policy Dan Ephron added: “This journalistic project is one of the most ambitious we’ve undertaken at ‘The Negotiators,’ with reporters who covered Afghanistan for years and exclusive interviews with key players.”
