Author: Stefan Hageman
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The Empathy Deficit
Stefan Noël Hageman asks whether military power can succeed without understanding how adversaries and civilians perceive violence. He argues that recent US and Israeli campaigns failed because they disregarded empathy as a strategic skill, strengthening resistance instead of weakening it. He concludes that long-term stability depends not only on force, but on perspective-taking and understanding…
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On Exile And Expertise:
How can the Syrian diaspora be effectively mobilised to support post-Assad reconstruction without repeating past pitfalls? Diaspora engagement offers valuable skills and social capital, but externally imposed approaches risk elite capture and legitimacy backlash. A demand-driven, locally anchored, transparent platform enables diaspora contributions while avoiding instrumentalisation, working towards inclusive and effective reconstruction.
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Europe Is Strong
What are Europe’s Strengths in this New World? despite widespread pessimism, Europe remains a major global power whose true strength lies not primarily in military force but in its vast economic weight, deep interdependence, and commitment to a rules-based international order that underpins prosperity and stability. If Europe preserves its values of cooperation, economic interdependence,…