All The Monitor's View
Tale of a short war and a long dependency on oilA four-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia points to a global need to help countries dependent on oil exports find new sources of wealth.
California doesn't let a drought go to wasteOver the past year, the state has shown innovation and resilience in reducing water usage. It is setting an example for the world, in which most people experience severe water shortages.
A global spotlight in Panama PapersThe release of documents from a Panama law firm, revealing hidden wealth of the world’s elite, reflects a global increase in demands for transparency in government and business.
Structures of hope for a new SyriaAs peace talks and a truce advance, new ideas are proposed to rebuild a post-war Syria. From the war-torn city of Homs, one woman offers useful advice.
The little African country that couldDespite recent sectarian violence and harsh rule, the Central African Republic renews its democracy – and hope – with a newly elected president. It is a model for a continent drifting toward autocracy.
Patience as a virtue in restarting a democracyMyanmar’s first civilian president in half a century pleads for patience, a virtue that many leaders find useful when coupled with moral strength.
For Europe, a light of truth in the BalkansA guilty verdict of genocide for a leading figure in the 1990s Balkan Wars serves as a lesson for Europe as it struggles with mass violence today.
A little-noticed antidote to terrorIn a country noted for terrorist attacks, Pakistanis show an unusually hopeful response to the Easter bombing of a children’s playground.
Retirees’ secret to happiness? Giving back‘Helping people in need’ trumps ‘spending on me’ in a poll of seniors
What AlphaGo’s win could meanArtificial intelligence beat a human in the ancient game of go – and that’s OK.
After the bombing: Brussels – and Europe – are ‘Boston strong’ tooThese senseless bombings show a desperate Islamic State, which can only win if it provokes a hasty overreaction.
How to choose a justiceTraditionally a president’s choice has been given some deference; now politics rules.
A timely tour in South CarolinaA bipartisan ‘pilgrimage’ by members of the US Congress yields lessons in forgiveness.
The moral action in naming genocideIn designating Islamic State as having committed genocide against Yazidis, Christians, and others, the US helps the world seek more ways to end this most heinous of crimes.
Kudos on climate progressA historic moment may have been reached in 2014-15 as carbon pollution did not go up even as the global economy did. This decoupling of emissions from prosperity is cause for gratitude.
Lifting the stigma on American MuslimsThe Trump campaign presents a fear of Muslims that does not hold up in a new poll of American Muslims.
Latin America’s sweeping anti-corruption broomFrom Brazil to Mexico, a rising middle class is driving efforts to ensure honest governance, reflecting a global trend toward ‘ethical universalism.’
Why wager on March Madness brackets?As gambling on the men’s collegiate basketball finals has grown, the NCAA is now promoting the ‘brackets.’ Amateur sports does not need the taint of corrosive gambling.
Why voters must rally over rally violenceCitizens can deter confrontation at campaign events by being peaceful themselves toward political opponents. Democracy, after all, was invented to resolve differences without violence.
What’s age got to do with running for president?The three top contenders – Clinton, Trump, Sanders – defy stereotypes about older people, and even attract younger voters. If age ‘ain’t nothing but a number,’ the 2016 contest shows it.
