Empathy in the Global World : An Intercultural Perspective

The first book to examine the nature, practices, and potential of empathy for understanding and addressing human problems on a global scale

Violence and acts of hatred worldwide—from the bombing of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 to wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Darfur, and Palestine—call attention to the critical importance of empathy in human affairs. Empathy in the Global World examines the role of compassion in decision making, how it is communicated via the media, and how it affects global problems such as poverty and environmental disasters. Ideal for undergraduate and graduate students, politicians, and reformers, this important work helps readers understand the workings of empathy—the bedrock of intercultural communication—as it demonstrates the importance of understanding the role of compassion in addressing international challenges.

Key Features

• Offers historical and cultural analysis into an array of topics, from the genesis of empathy to 21^st- century discourse and practices of the concept
• Takes readers beyond existing ways of looking at empathy into such areas as geopolitics, global class issues, the world of NGOs, and national disasters
• Explores what it is like to grapple with terrorism, Israeli-Arab relations, and other audacious events that shape human thought
• Clarifies and connects issues through stories and examples of empathetic and non-empathetic practices across a range of cultures

Intended Audience

Empathy in the Global World: An Intercultural Perspective is ideal for a wide range of courses, including Conflict/Negotiation/Mediation, Intercultural Communication, and Interpersonal Communication.