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Support Blast, a new independent media: https://www.blast-info.fr/soutenir Why do we have variable-geometry empathy? Why don't we have the same degree of identification with certain parts of the population? In other words, what makes others see us as similar, whose emotions we can understand and share, or on the contrary, marginalizes them and prevents any empathy? These are the questions that neuroscientist Samah Karaki tried to answer, who draws a major conclusion: empathy is very political. If variable-geometry empathy is in some ways biological according to her research, its construction on the other hand is eminently political, and has little natural about it. Who do we empathize with, and who do we not, is above all a matter of our social construction as individuals. Empathy is encouraged, constructed, shaped, in particular by the media, culture, and political leaders, just like dehumanization, which is a very political process again. The dehumanization of a social group or part of the population in relation to another part of the population is also the prerequisite for allowing its discrimination, violence against it, or even its annihilation. For Samah Karaki, empathy is fallible and selective, and it is not the solution, which does not prevent her from highlighting the major problem posed by dehumanization. According to her, we are all inevitably excluded from the experience of others, and a surplus of empathy can even prevent effective protective action from being taken. Rather than providing an individual and emotional response to suffering and injustice, she advocates for political and social measures. So what are the political aspects of empathy, what solutions are there in the face of this observation? Answer with Salomé Saqué and Samah Karaki in this new program. Journalist: Salomé Saqué Editing: Mélanie Ciais Sound: Baptiste Veilhan Graphics: Morgane Sabouret Production: Hicham Tragha Program Director: Mathias Enthoven Editor-in-Chief: Soumaya Benaïssa Publication Director: Denis Robert Website: https://www.blast-info.fr/ Facebook: / blastofficiel Twitter: / blast_france Instagram: / blastofficiel Mastodon: https://mamot.fr/web/@blast_info Peertube: https://video.blast-info.fr/ Twitch: / blastinfo #Empathy #Politics #SamahKaraki