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.