Can empathy really transform politics and leadership?
In a contested world, is there still space for empathy? What role can empathy play in improving politics and leadership – and what does it demand of those in politics, and us as citizens?
Join Claire Yorke whose new book Empathy in Politics and Leadership: The Key to Transforming our World (Yale University Press, 2025) articulates not only the value of empathy, but also some the challenges it presents. Drawing on examples from around the world, she examines how it can present a challenge to the status quo, and offer a path to more effective politics, and better ways to engage in our communities.
Meet our speaker and chair
Claire Yorke is an author and a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Future Defence and National Security, at Deakin University in Canberra, Australia. She has been working on empathy and emotions in politics, diplomacy, and international relations for over ten years, including spent time as a Marie Skłowdowska-Curie Fellow in Denmark, and as a Kissinger A. Postdoctoral Fellow in the United States. She began her career at Chatham House and in the Houses of Parliament.
Alexander Evans teaches in the LSE School of Public Policy, including on the utility of empathy in diplomacy and national decision-making. A former adviser to the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street, he has also worked as a diplomat for the UK and US governments and for the United Nations.
More about this event
The LSE School of Public Policy (@LSEPublicPolicy) equips you with the skills and ideas to transform people and societies. It is an international community where ideas and practice meet. Their approach creates professionals with the ability to analyse, understand and resolve the challenges of contemporary governance.
Hashtag for this event is: #LSEPublicPolicy
From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.
Whilst we are hosting this listing, LSE Events does not take responsibility for the running and administration of this event. While we take responsible measures to ensure that accurate information is given here this event is ultimately the responsibility of the organisation presenting the event.
LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.