All The Monitor's View
Malaysia鈥檚 lesson for leaders who stay too longThe May 9 election overthrew the only party ever to rule the Southeast Asian nation. Young voters rejected corrupt, crony politics and chose a broad coalition that promises rule of law.
Why Trump cannot merely contain IranIn the Middle East, the US has done more good when it helps create order and liberty than when it simply opposes bullies.
What happens after an anti-corruption victoryArmenia鈥檚 protest leader,聽Nikol Pashinian, is now its prime minister but he wisely puts the burden on the people鈥檚 awakening to achieve reform.
Let Iranians decide the regime鈥檚 futureTrump needs to have patience, not use the threat of sanctions toward an Iranian theocracy that is its own worst enemy, as witnessed by rising protests and strikes.
Using Marx鈥檚 birthday to recall progress toward peaceOne reason for a decline in violence over time is the demise of theories that justify force. On the anniversary of his birth, Marx鈥檚 theories should be a warning about ignoble reasons for mass killing.
Europe puts its money where its values areA proposal to cut aid to European Union members that violate democratic norms, such as Poland and Hungary, could help ensure Europe remains a safe home for liberty.
Africa鈥檚 new giving handsAmong rich and poor alike, the continent reveals a bootstraps approach to success through generosity.
A first step in denuclearizing the Korean PeninsulaWhen they meet, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un should call a truce on name-calling, creating a civility that is necessary for trust in disarmament.
Humility first in battling corruptionOne of the world鈥檚 most powerful financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund, admits it has been weak in stopping corruption. The results of its introspection could lift the global economy.
A lesson from Nigeria to Trump?Africa鈥檚 most populous country, suffering a long battle with jihadi groups, has successfully negotiated with a branch of Islamic State to release abducted children. Is that a lesson in how to talk to terrorists?
Why Trump and Merkel must discuss migrationEach leader went too far on migration policy, forcing the US and Germany into a debate over national identity. Now they can listen to each other on next steps on how to deal with global migrants.
Macron鈥檚 embrace of Trump, not TrumpismThe display of affection between the French and American leaders runs counter to their deep differences over policies. Did Emmanuel Macron just set a model for American politics?
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.