The Problem With Strategic Empathy

Can a human empathize with a non-human creature?

I have heard many talk about having strategic empathy for the enemy. In principle, this is a good thing. Understanding where the enemy comes from is very helpful. You don’t have to agr

ee with the evil to understand it. But, in practice, how possible is it?

Most of the recent talk of strategic empathy, at least the ones that go through my radar, is about Russia. Russia’s a different animal than Iran. Maybe it is wrong of me to apply the Islamic Republic rules to Russia. Or maybe the problem is me, not the concept, that growing up in Iran permanently broke me. But my experience tells me that strategic empathy isn’t really possible.

I think that Ali Khamenei is a devout Muslim, and I think that his power inside the system is Stalin-like. But my confidence in these is medium-high.