All The Monitor's View
An Armenian rhapsodySpontaneous mass protests in the former Soviet state of Armenia have ended a deceitful power play by a longtime ruler to stay in office. In throwing off their fears, Armenians showed others in repressive countries how to 鈥榣ive in the truth.鈥�
Why a wave of Asian summitryLeaders of India and China are meeting this weekend, as are those of the Koreas. Perhaps the region鈥檚 historic disputes over land are yielding to a need for common prosperity.
The art of parsing apologiesA wave of recent apologies by public figures requires a fine discernment to understand when someone does right for the original offense.
The new mercy for corrupt firms that fess upFor most white-collar crimes, such as corruption, more countries are following a US practice of legal leniency toward companies that confess and reform.
Moon shot for peace between the KoreasTwo historic summits in coming weeks reflect a bold vision by the South Korean leader to probe the North鈥檚 potential shift toward a peaceful peninsula.
India鈥檚 swing in favor of girlsPublic outcry over the rape of a girl hints at a growing confidence to confront old attitudes toward women and girls. The confidence may come from a dramatic success in reducing child marriages.
Trump鈥檚 attack on Syria: a bias for hope?The pessimism that prevails after Trump degraded Syria鈥檚 chemical weapons reflects a wider pessimism about progress in human rights. But does the evidence support such naysayers. And are they defeating their own cause?
War in Syria. Gloom over Iran. Can Iraq provide hope?An election in Iraq shows how the Middle East might rise above divides over religion to embrace a unifying identity.
Did Paul Ryan leave them rolling in the aisles?The rest of Paul Ryan鈥檚 tenure as House speaker should be used to take a measure of his efforts to bring civility to politics, including how he helped members learn to laugh together.
Hungary plants two kinds of seedsEven as a tilted election further erodes its democracy, Hungary also sees a rise in corruption. The latter trend will someday help restore full rights and liberties.
A creative solution to the US-China trade disputeAs the world鈥檚 two largest economies slap new tariffs on each other, they also are forced to look at their common interest in nurturing innovation. That may help drive both to a truce.
A chemical attack felt round the worldThe reaction to Syria鈥檚 latest use of chemical weapons shows humanity鈥檚 steady if uneven embrace of universal rights, such as the right to life for innocent civilians. Those rights, enshrined 70 years ago by the UN, need both protection and celebration.
How the #MeToo movement speaks to he-menThe era of the strongman needs the era of #MeToo and its emphasis on lifting the views of men about their identity.
Cybersecurity may be beating cyber fearDespite the drumbeat of data breaches, such as Facebook鈥檚, the good news is that companies and governments are putting security first, according to a new survey.
An election so normal it鈥檚 a benchmarkMost Latin Americans will vote for a president this year, and Costa Rica has already set a standard by resisting populism and social media polarization in its April 1 election.
Yemen鈥檚 women as warriors of peaceAmid the tragedy of Yemen鈥檚 long war and the loss of men, women are being forced into new roles. Foreign aid helps many rebuild their lives and the country鈥檚 social fabric.
What to make of a North Korean apologyIn a country whose leaders are portrayed as infallible, a recent apology by a top official may help soften coming talks with the US and South Korea.
A guide to watching Arab electionsEgypt鈥檚 sham election doesn鈥檛 deserve as much attention as a real one this May in an Arab nation that embraces liberty of conscience.
Africa鈥檚 second liberationWhen most of the continent鈥檚 nations sign up to create a free-trade zone, it signals more than a business transaction. Africa is sharing values of trust and equality.
Why Facebook must 鈥榣ike鈥� ethical investorsAfter news broke of Facebook鈥檚 misuse of personal data, social capitalists on Wall Street helped bring down the stock price of this 鈥榮urveillance capitalist.鈥� Ethical investing is rewriting rules for what are 鈥榞ood鈥� profits.
