Author

Credible. Tense. Terrifying.


THE THIRD WORLD WAR tells the story of four world leaders pitted against the raw power of failing states. A Russian president who needs to rein in his ambitious generals;  an Indian prime minister experienced in the lethal consequences of the wrong decision; a Chinese president faced with competing forces within his country; and, in the White House, a man who tries to make peace with those who only want catastrophe.

Flashpoint One - Pakistan

Flashpoint Two - North Korea

The opening stages of the Third World War are more confusing and terrible than those in any war in history. A terror attack on the Indian parliament kills hundreds. Hours later a North Korean missile hits a US military base in Japan. As the next few days unfold, those once counted as allies become enemies, and the comfortable lives of citizens in modern societies verge of physical and emotional collapse.

Ultimately, four men pitted against each other because of events they fail to control.

The global reality of our time



 

Enter

Reporter

Humphrey Hawksley

Humphrey Hawksley is a leading BBC foreign correspondent, author and commentator on world affairs. For more than twenty years he has reported on key trends, events and conflicts from all over the world.

Contact: hh@humphreyhawksley.com

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Watch out for the next investigation into conflict, poverty and our supply chains.

 

Sugar
Guatemala in Central America has one of the worst records of violence, corruption and treatment of workers. Humphrey Hawksley travels through through the country asking why the European Union is now  giving it new trade privileges.  BBC's Our World - Guatemala's Sweet Deal.

 

Gold
Humphrey Hawksley goes to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to investigate the link between minerals, war and business. These are the raw materials used in our every day lives for computers, phones and household appliances. Humphrey asks if a little-known American law might force a change to how multi-national companies do business in the developing world and if that could speed up an end to poverty and conflict.

 

Cotton
Globalisation has brought the world's goods to the west. But how can consumers be sure they are buying food and clothing manufactured without harming workers - especially children? Humphrey Hawksley travels to the cotton fields and factories of India and discovers rampant abuse and child labour.

 

Chocolate
For years, the chocolate industry knew their raw products were farmed in unacceptable conditions - using slavery and children. Humphrey Hawksley first exposed the cocoa scandal more than a decade ago. Returning again to the Ivory Coast, he finds children taken from their parents and forced to harvest cocoa with little evidence that chocolate makers plan to change things.

AND DON'T MISS

 

Dancing with the Devil
Shortly after dark as the solitary stilted "devil dancer" walked back into the Liberian forest, we headed off, but soon found the road blocked and in the darkness it was difficult to see why.....

And all of Humphrey Hawksley's reports for the BBC's much loved FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

Lessons of Failed States: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Liberia
Yale Global

Rush into Democracy and you Rue the Results
Evening Standard