Empathy Prevents Escalation In International Conflict

Ashutosh Jogalekar argues that empathy for adversaries, properly understood, can prevent or de-escalate conflicts. Using October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, post-9/11 intelligence shortfalls, and Afghanistan development missteps, he shows how cultural and linguistic familiarity shaped outcomes. The piece urges integrating cultural, linguistic, and lived understanding into diplomacy, intelligence, and development to expand negotiation options and reduce unintended harm.