Why You Fight Against Your Own Interests: Lessons from a Peace Negotiator

Episode notes

Guest: Lord John Alderdice, House of Lords & Peace Negotiator What if conflict isn’t driven by rational self-interest, but by something far more human? In this episode, Lord John Alderdice—psychiatrist, political leader, and key architect of the Good Friday Agreement which brought peace to Northern Ireland—shares a radically different lens on conflict. Drawing from decades of peace negotiations, he explains why people and nations often act against their own interests, and what leaders must understand to move from division to resolution. You’ll learn why listening is more powerful than persuasion, why the real issue is often the relationship (not the opposing sides), and how identity, history, and fear shape decisions in ways logic cannot. Alderdice also explores how these lessons apply to today’s global polarization, from geopolitics to corporations. This conversation offers a profound reframe for leaders navigating complexity, conflict, and change in an increasingly uncertain world.