Why empathy might be the wrong starting point for peace
Most peacebuilding efforts fail because they focus on the wrong foundation. Mediator Hiba Qasas explains why leading with shared incentives, rather than empathy, can drive collaboration even during active warfare.
Drawing on forty years of experience in the world's most volatile conflict zones, Hiba Qasas challenges the conventional wisdom that conciliation must begin with empathy. She argues that the path to stability often begins with self-interest.
The video explores how a strategy centered on shared incentives successfully facilitated active cooperation between hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli leaders, even while war was ongoing. This approach suggests that finding common ground through practical benefits can bridge divides that emotional appeals cannot.
Source: Hiba Qasas: The missing ingredient in every peace deal
