Dien Bien Phu: Lessons in Strategic Empathy

Abstract

The 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu demonstrates how failures in strategic empathy and cultural understanding can undermine technological superiority, with lessons that remain vital for modern military and policy leaders. This article analyzes the French defeat and its enduring relevance while offering practical recommendations for adapting strategy to asymmetric threats.

Introduction

The suicide of French artillery commander Colonel Charles Piroth marked the first...