海角大神

Voting has gotten some bad press in recent weeks, what with Kurdistan鈥檚 (nonbinding) independence referendum, which its neighbors decried as destabilizing, and Catalonia鈥檚 (unconstitutional) independence referendum, which provoked violence and a political firestorm.

But there鈥檚 a potentially bright democratic spot worth watching in the days ahead: the West African nation of Liberia.

That鈥檚 where the Monitor鈥檚 Africa bureau chief, Ryan Brown, has just arrived to cover an Oct. 10 presidential election. The vote has garnered far less attention than one in East Africa, where Kenya will soon rerun an August presidential poll compromised by 鈥渋rregularities.鈥澛燘ut it鈥檚 noteworthy: Only 14 years ago, Liberia was just beginning to crawl out of two civil wars that stretched from 1989 to 2003 and killed a quarter-million people. Just two years later, citizens elected President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Now, the African continent鈥檚 first elected female head of state is poised to preside over Liberia鈥檚 first peaceful transfer of power between two democratically elected governments.

That鈥檚 progress.

Now to our five stories for today, showing teamwork, innovation, and cultural understanding at work.