All The Monitor's View
Afghanistan's deeper challengePresident Trump is taking aim at the terrorist threat to Afghanistan. But the threat of corruption is in many ways more corrosive and will take just as much courage to root out. Yet there are positive glimmers.聽
Safe protests and uncomfortable conversationsLast weekend's protests in Boston showed the growing tendency to invalidate those on the other side instead of engaging in tough 鈥� but needed 鈥� conversations.
Teachable monuments?America's debate over Confederate statues comes down to a question of context: What do those statues mean? In the past, some have been used for reconciliation and understanding.聽
A common thread in curbing racist expressionAfter the violence in Charlottesville, Va., Americans are seeking ways to curb public expressions of racism, from statues to tweets. One idea lies at the heart of these efforts.
What post-ISIS Iraq can do for peaceReports that Iraq wants to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia is another sign of how many Iraqis have learned from battling Islamic State that Sunni-Shiite rivalry must end.
Solar eclipses as lessons in lifting shadows of hateLike the darkness of an eclipse, the dark mood of hate in the United States, stirred by right-wing protests, must be seen as fleeting.
Why the US demands China innovate, not stealA US probe of China鈥檚 infringement on American patents comes with an expectation that China has the ingenuity to invent its way to greater prosperity. The biggest barrier: a fear of failure by its researchers.
After Charlottesville, a calling out of claims on racial superiorityThe strong reaction of many Americans to the Virginia tragedy helps show the false claims of white supremacists about skin color.
A grass-roots model to counter words that inciteAs the US and North Korea engage in a war of words, a new effort in Kenya shows how to train local peacemakers to guard against rhetoric that might incite acts of violence.聽
The lesson of the Google firing for innovationIn an era of slow productivity, companies need greater diversity of thought to innovate. Workers who stereotype people and their qualities by sex only put limits on diversity of thinking.
How North Korea wars with itselfThe US must see through the rising nuclear threats and help North Koreans realize their regime is living a lie of self-sufficiency. No country is an island in an age of cooperation in markets, defense, and international norms.
Kenya鈥檚 learning curve in democracyReforms since the tribal-fueled violence of the 2007 election should help Kenya set an example for a continent in need of fair and peaceful elections.
Bearing up: How the US deters RussiaTo counter Moscow鈥檚 aggression, whether in elections or in Ukraine, requires the same mix of deterrence, restraint, and patience that won the cold war.聽
The UN鈥檚 listening tour in LibyaTo piece this country back together and end its role in terrorism and migration to Europe, the United Nations has sent an envoy to listen to Libyans who want to reconcile. For many nations split apart 鈥� or forming 鈥� listening is a primary path to a peaceful outcome.
Troubled Venezuela鈥檚 path to peaceAs the Maduro regime loses legitimacy, the democratic opposition lays claim to it, even trying to form a parallel government. This contest can end if leaders understand the sources of legitimacy.聽
A skillful decision on daily fantasy sportsAs this gaming industry grows, more states ask if it is worth probing how much players rely on skill versus chance. A Massachusetts panel has given good advice.聽聽
An Arab model for curbing domestic violenceA new law in Tunisia sets a regional standard by granting better protection for abused women. It reflects a steady shift in the Middle East toward gender equality.聽
The payoff for society in rewarding whistle-blowersA US program that pays for tips on company fraud helps highlight the role of employees as guardians of their firm's integrity.
Taking the high road in a Himalayan hostilityIndia and China, two giants that cannot afford a war, are in a military standoff over a piece of Bhutan. Patient diplomacy will hopefully win the day.
When Congress wields a tool of peaceLawmakers are strongly bipartisan in support of new sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The mixed record on sanctions requires Congress to be vigilant in tracking their impact.