All The Monitor's View
Where are we headed? Answers may lie in the pastThe Great Recession saw interest in the humanities, such as history, plummet in favor of 鈥榩ractical鈥� college studies. But today鈥檚 turmoil may have reawakened interest in just how we got here.
The women activists for peace in SyriaAs the Assad regime prepares to take the last opposition stronghold, women in that province are working to remove the main excuse for such an attack.
Tackle the rush to sports gamblingA Supreme Court ruling has left states free to legalize sports wagering, raising issues of how to protect the integrity of sports. Congress is starting to weigh in.
Why Myanmar must look in the mirrorA UN probe of military atrocities against the minority Rohingya also points to the country鈥檚 need to unify around a national identity, preferably one that is inclusive.
Argentina tries breaking corrupt habitsA trove of evidence about payoffs to former presidents has accelerated a two-year campaign against corruption and brought greater promise of clean governance.
McCain鈥檚 mutiny against war bitternessOf all his admirable traits, it was the former POW鈥檚 forgiveness toward Vietnam that helped reconcile the US to its former adversary.
How to help China鈥檚 MuslimsThe mass internment of minority Uyghurs in western China is just the latest assaults on Muslims and demands far more than denunciation. What鈥檚 needed is religious response to such religious intolerance.
How generosity can help end Latin America鈥檚 biggest crisisAs Venezuela falls apart and triggers a mass exodus, Colombia extends a welcome to the refugees, perhaps encouraging international moves to end the crisis.
A plea deal鈥檚 spotlight on Trump 鈥� and campaign finance rulesAn assertion by the president鈥檚 former lawyer could trigger an impeachment hearing and a closer look at the role of campaign finance rules in a democracy.
Greece鈥檚 day of redemptionThe official end of a bailout of the Greek economy marks a triumph for European unity and a new dawn for reform in Greece.
Trump鈥檚 call for patient capitalismThe president asked federal regulators to lessen the pressure on corporations to report quarterly profits. He joins many others in trying to ensure long-term investments built on fundamental values, such as innovation and integrity.
The nature of talking in TurkeyWorld jitters over Turkey鈥檚 economy are based on its leader not listening to deliberative bodies, such as the central bank, that can sift the best in wise advice, even from dissenters.聽
The election鈥檚 鈥榩ink wave鈥� that is driving equalityWomen are being nominated for office in record numbers this year, perhaps revealing how views on gender are shifting.
A cold-war anniversary that still warms the heartFifty years after Moscow ended the Prague Spring by force, the world continues to benefit from the lesson of truth-telling that was spawned by that historic event.
An alignment for peace in AfghanistanCombat continues in America鈥檚 longest war, but recent moves toward negotiations reveal changes may be afoot in the Taliban and other players.
The qualities of mediating a US-Iran settlementAs it has done before, the tiny sultanate of Oman may act as a neutral party for Iran and the US to negotiate a stand-down. It brings special mediating skills rooted in a commandment found in the three Abrahamic faiths.
Paving Mexico鈥檚 road to reconciliationIn preparing to take office Dec. 1, the president-elect is on a listening tour, soliciting and offering ideas on ways to stem rising violence. The boldest idea would balance mercy and justice for criminals, with a special focus on victims and truth-telling.
New contours in international cooperationNationalism may be on the rise and hindering global consensus, but a pact among the five coastal states on the Caspian Sea represents a shift toward neighborly agreements.
Syria needs to be a blueprint for peacemakingEnding modern conflicts has become more difficult and perhaps the war in Syria 鈥� the most difficult of all 鈥� is an opportunity for new approaches in diplomacy.
A yearning for wholeness in local newsAs more newspapers lay off journalists, more people 鈥� especially those in the 鈥榥ew localism鈥� 鈥� look to revive local news as a way to define the character of their community.