Chasing Peace: 1. Wired for War?

It’s December 2008. Wasim’s newborn daughter Yuna urgently needs care. He has no choice but to navigate the flames engulfing the streets of Gaza to find a doctor. In that harrowing moment, Wasim feels a profound injustice. This is not the future he wants for Yuna - or any other child. Despite the disheartening decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, on that day, Wasim still resolved to dedicate his life - to peace.

With conflicts and wars flaring across the globe, many of us struggle to believe that true, global peace is possible. If anything, it feels more elusive than ever. But if Wasim’s story shows us anything, it’s that even in difficult circumstances, we haven’t given up on the hope of peace.

In this first episode of Chasing Peace, a special three-part mini-series of Sideways, we explore whether humans are truly capable of peace, or if the dice were stacked against us from the very beginning.

With peace activist Wasim Al Masri, anthropologist Dr Douglas Fry, Professor of International Relations Oliver Richmond, and former Uganda peace negotiator Betty Bigombe.

Presenter: Matthew Syed Producer: Julien Manuguerra-Patten Editor: Hannah Marshall Sound Design and Mix: Daniel Kempson Theme music by: Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4