All The Monitor's View
Where Trump, Clinton overlap on SyriaTrump鈥檚 foreign-policy speech finds some common ground with Clinton in the concern for protecting the innocent in Syria鈥檚 brutal war.
The audacity of a Saudi visionRather than simply attack the country鈥檚 many domestic problems directly, a Saudi plan instead creates opportunities for a post-oil economy. It might help shift the global debate on climate change.聽
The uses of gratitude in diplomacyPresident Obama鈥檚 message on a European tour was that the Continent can help overcome its many woes by remembering the progress it has made 鈥� and the example it still sets for the world.
Long road to trust for the car industryMore scandals have hit the global car industry since revelations about VW鈥檚 diesel emissions. Transparency will help carmakers rebuild badly shaken trust.
An odd up-and-down in the presidential raceDistrust of government is at a record high but turnout in many primaries is higher than normal.聽 Why voters say one thing to pollsters and do another.
What lies behind turmoil in Brazil, UkraineA president faces impeachment, a prime minister resigns 鈥� these are signs of voters fed up with corruption and looking for blame. The ultimate answer, however, lies in choosing and voting for moral candidates.
What Obama must see in Saudi ArabiaUS-Saudi ties are not in the best shape, but President Obama should look to the emerging civic identity of Saudi youth, found in their digital life and demand for rights.
A world free of drug abuse? The UN must keep trying.聽A UN special assembly on drugs will try to rebuild a global consensus on drug policies. New treatments offer hope for abusers in being addiction-free. But anti-drug enforcement, while in need of reform, should not be reduced.
The payoff in not paying off an officialA survey of global firms finds a trend in honesty: More corporations are experiencing fewer losses to corrupt competitors who are still willing to pay a bribe. It seems running a business with integrity in a corrupt environment can be profitable.聽
Germany鈥檚 humane rush to integrate refugeesChancellor Angela Merkel has helped stem the flow of migrants into Europe and now has a plan to integrate many in Germany. The plan offers both carrots and sticks to ensure 鈥榗ohesion鈥� in German society.
Good grades for girls鈥� educationWith so much progress worldwide, the champions of better schooling for girls seek further gains. They have plenty of successful models and new sources of money.
Echoes of Arab Spring in peace stepsA possible driver for cease-fires in Syria, Libya, and Yemen may be a high desire for freedom and equality among Arab youth. A new survey reveals their aspirations, five years since the Arab Spring.
What a woman might do as world鈥檚 chief diplomatThe UN has begun its selection process to pick the next secretary-general. The winner will need feminine skills of leadership to help the global body reform itself and restore its peacemaking possibilities.
Why the drop in income inequality?Even as it rises in many countries, income inequality has fallen worldwide, a result of pro-poor trends in places from Africa to China. A better focus on growth, innovation, and greater opportunities can help countries close the income gap.
The key skill of Libya鈥檚 UN-chosen leaderKnown as a listener who builds consensus, Fayez al-Sarraj must win over warring factions, unite an army, defeat Islamic State, revive the economy, and stem the flow of refugees.
Tale of a short war and a long dependency on oilA four-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia points to a global need to help countries dependent on oil exports find new sources of wealth.
California doesn't let a drought go to wasteOver the past year, the state has shown innovation and resilience in reducing water usage. It is setting an example for the world, in which most people experience severe water shortages.
A global spotlight in Panama PapersThe release of documents from a Panama law firm, revealing hidden wealth of the world鈥檚 elite, reflects a global increase in demands for transparency in government and business.
Structures of hope for a new SyriaAs peace talks and a truce advance, new ideas are proposed to rebuild a post-war Syria. From the war-torn city of Homs, one woman offers useful advice.
The little African country that couldDespite recent sectarian violence and harsh rule, the Central African Republic renews its democracy 鈥� and hope 鈥� with a newly elected president. It is a model for a continent drifting toward autocracy.
