About Carne Ross
I am a former British diplomat who resigned over the Iraq War.

After leaving government, I founded Independent Diplomat (ID) - the world’s first non-profit diplomatic advisory group. After stepping down as Executive Director, I continue to advise democratic movements and countries on diplomatic technique and strategy. I also write and broadcast video about the political change necessary to address the current crises.
My Work:
- Diplomacy:Â helping marginalised groups access and negotiate effectively in international discussions and organisations such as the UN
- Political change: strategising and advocating for bottom-up democracy across the world (learn about the Communalism Network here)
- Writing and social media - writing and broadcasting about the deeper structures that shape global events - and how to change themÂ
My story:Â A Diplomat TURNED WHISTLEBLOWER TURNED ANARCHIST
I was a British diplomat for 16 years, working on multiple issues from climate to terrorism and the Middle East. I served in Germany, Norway, Kosovo, the UK Mission to the UN in New York and Afghanistan and as speechwriter for the British foreign secretary. I was the head of Middle East affairs (especially Iraq) at the UK Mission to the United Nations from '98 to 2002, lived through 9/11, served in Kabul, then witnessed the (dishonest) preparations for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In 2004, I secretly testified about the government's lies about WMD and rejection of alternatives to war to the first official inquiry into the war. I resigned from the Foreign Office at the same time. The publication of my testimony led to calls for the full public inquiry into the war, to which I also testified (you can read my testimony here).
I then founded the world's first non-profit diplomatic advisory group, Independent Diplomat, which works with democratic countries and political movements around the world, helping marginalised countries and groups to access the diplomatic decision-making about their futures.

My intellectual journey has been one of belief in the state and 'liberal' democracy to a realisation that our current crises need more fundamental reform, including bottom-up self-government, shared ownership and mutual aid, what some call anarchism. I write books and broadcast videos (on YouTube and TikTok) about the deep structures and forces that drive world events and how anarchism might, just might, solve our many current crises.
There’s a BBC documentary feature film about me and my ideas called, “Accidental Anarchist”. And this TEDx talk is about why I believe in anarchism.
my Mission is to ensure those most affected are at the centre of decision making about their lives
build a movement for people's democracy
Along with Debbie Bookchin, a pioneer in non-hierarchical and inclusive decision-making, I am building a global network of communalist projects - the Communalist Network (see more here)
Open up diplomacy
I founded the non-profit advisory group, Independent Diplomat, and today I continue to help marginalized democratic countries and groups engage in international diplomacy
Mainstream Anarchism
In my books, videos and talks, I explain why anarchism may be the solution to our many problems - and allows us to be our most human
carne's approach to diplomacy and political change
I practice a unique and often radical approach to diplomacy and political change. My work is about one simple but sometimes very difficult thing: to put people at the centre of decisions about them. While we need theory to guide us, I believe in action - what anarchists call praxis: putting ideas into life.
My analytical thinking is guided by many disciplines including systems theory, complexity science and post-structuralism (which I wrote about here), among other things.  You can learn more about these methods on my course about how to be a critical thinker.
Anarchism, with a bit of Daoism, Marx and Jung thrown in, is my philosophy.Â
How to be a critical thinker35 years of diplomatic experience
I spent 16 years in the UK diplomatic service then founded and ran the unique advisory group, Independent Diplomat, which has worked with dozens of democratic countries and political movements worldwide, helping them achieve extraordinary diplomatic outcomes
a record of Impact
I have advised scores of democratic countries and political movements, often in dramatic and difficult situations of war or self-determination. We've guided countries to independence and formed the coalition, led by the Marshall Islands, that made the Paris Agreement a landmark climate treaty
Independent Thinking
An iconoclast both inside and now outside government, I've always trodden my own path through the jungle. I am now proud to call myself an anarchist, a philosophy I passionately believe offers answers to our current crises of alienation, polarization and systems collapse.
the driving philosophy
My work addresses exclusion - from diplomatic decision-making and from our own supposedly 'democratic' governments. I have designed diplomatic strategies for countries to attain their independence, and political strategies to build movements and change narratives.
Uncover the structures and ideas Behind Global Events
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for deeper insights into the forces shaping our world.
Subscribe NowTestimonials
I agree with every word Carne says. Let's get this shit done!
Alexei Sayle
Carne Ross reminds us that although we are controlled by a few people who will do anything to protect their interests, they can be made irrelevant if we just have confidence in ourselves. That’s why I love what he says. He keeps it real.
Benjamin Zephaniah
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
Get news about new videos, blogs and courses straight to your inbox. No pestering, not frequent.