Al Jazeera film profiles mediator William Ury’s case for diplomacy
The 24-minute episode examines conflict resolution through Ury’s work and argues mediation has a role beyond formal diplomacy.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Al Jazeera has published a new episode of The Possibilist focused on veteran mediator William Ury and the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution. The 24-minute, 50-second film presents mediation as a fragile but necessary practice at a time of war, polarisation and political pressure.
The episode, released on July 1, 2026, features Ury reflecting on what Al Jazeera describes as the “fine art of diplomacy” and its role in holding societies together. The film was made by Fatima Lianes.
A focus on conflict and mediation
Al Jazeera frames the episode around a period of rupture across several regions, citing Gaza, Ukraine, Myanmar and Kashmir, as well as political divisions in the United States and Europe. The broadcaster says the film examines how dialogue has become difficult and risky in an era marked by fear, humiliation and absolutist political language.
Ury is identified in the episode description as a cofounder of Harvard’s Program on Negotiation and as one of the architects of modern conflict resolution. The film uses his career to examine how peace efforts can begin when trust is absent and how negotiations are tested by ego, trauma and political pressure, according to Al Jazeera.
The episode’s central argument, as described by the broadcaster, is that mediation depends on human connection as much as formal process. It looks at how people involved in conflict can resist dehumanisation and preserve channels for discussion when violence and distrust dominate.
Beyond formal diplomacy
Al Jazeera says The Possibilist presents peace as a responsibility that extends beyond professional diplomats. The episode links mediation to everyday settings including homes, workplaces and communities, arguing that people hold forms of influence even without political office.
The film contrasts political power, which Al Jazeera says can change laws, with moral power rooted in empathy, courage and presence. The episode describes that moral power as a force that can affect hearts, according to the broadcaster’s summary.
The episode sits within Al Jazeera’s video programming and is presented as the eighth instalment of The Possibilist. Alongside the film, Al Jazeera recommended other video stories from its archive, including reports and documentaries tied to Libya, the Jordan Valley, espionage involving Israelis, and Palestine.
The release adds to the broadcaster’s coverage of conflict and peacebuilding by centring a mediator rather than a combatant or political leader. Through Ury’s work, the episode argues that diplomacy is not only a tool for governments but also a practice people can use in divided communities.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.