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If you look at the developments in the international scene over the past many years, we haven't been able to resolve many problems and many crises, because we have approached them from a zero-sum perspective. My gain has always been defined as somebody else's loss, and through that, we never resolve problems.
Mohammad Javad Zarif
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes that a zero-sum perspective hinders conflict resolution.

In this quote, Mohammad Javad Zarif highlights that viewing international issues as one party's gain equating to another's loss leads to persistent problems and unresolved crises. This zero-sum mindset restricts cooperation and mutual benefit, suggesting that true progress can only be achieved by shifting toward more collaborative approaches that recognize the interconnectedness of global challenges.

Themes

Zero-SumCooperationConflict ResolutionInternational RelationsPerspective

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about international diplomacy, one could reference this quote to illustrate the importance of cooperation over competition.

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