This site hosts my writing and media appearances including news about the documentary movie, Accidental Anarchist. I am a former British diplomat who resigned over the Iraq war. I founded the world's first non-profit diplomatic advisory group, Independent Diplomat.
A few years ago I visited Rojava in North East Syria to witness for myself the extraordinary revolution of self-government, often led by women, following the ideas of Murray Bookchin and Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the PKK. The visit was Continue reading The Rojava revolution: a video introduction→
I’ve started a regular newsletter or blog on Substack. I talk about world events from a radical perspective, but also with an insider’s knowledge as someone who was once very much at the heart of government. I’ve worked on political Continue reading Gentle Anarchy – My new blog on world events→
It is twenty years since I resigned from the Foreign Office over the Iraq War. I remember well the day I wrote to the Foreign Secretary, attaching my secret evidence to the Butler Inquiry as the reason. The government had Continue reading Twenty Years since my Resignation: some hard lessons→
I appeared this weekend on Al Jazeera’s Inside Story show discussing Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria and the risks of broader regional conflict. This discussion took place on 13 April, before Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Continue reading Israel/Iran/Gaza→
I recently had a conversation with Douglas Rushkoff, a theorist of post-capitalism, especially in tech and media. It was a joyous exploration of ideas. Our talk touched on the origins of the relationship between capitalism and government, the financial crisis, Continue reading A talk with Douglas Rushkoff→
This is the text of a speech I gave on 29 April to the OxPeace Conference on Ukraine. The speech underlines the need for all of Ukraine’s populations, including in the Donbas and Crimea, to be consulted in any possible Continue reading Ukraine: the requirements of a peace deal→