Crossword Genius

International head after conflict showing caution (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wariness

'caution' is the definition.
(wariness is a kind of caution)

'international head after conflict' is the wordplay.
'international' becomes 'i' (abbreviation eg in IMF).
'head' becomes 'ness' (ness is a headland**).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'conflict' becomes 'war' (war is a kind of conflict).
'i'+'ness'='iness'
'iness' after 'war' is 'WARINESS'.

'showing' is the link.

(Other definitions for wariness that I've seen before include "State of caution" , "Circumspection" , "Caution, watchfulnes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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