All The Monitor's View
The Peace Prize’s lesson for civil societyThe Nobel Peace Prize went to four groups in Tunisia that prevented violence by mediating a political crisis with a message about individual dignity and equality.
Europe’s test of tolerance over Muslim influxRussia’s bombing of Syria may push millions more Muslims to flee toward Europe, forcing the Continent to quell anti-Muslim bigotry and reinforce the concept of citizenship based on inclusivity.
The outrageous fortune of fantasy sportsThe rising popularity of ‘daily fantasy sports,’ driven mainly by those gambling on imaginary teams, is now under scrutiny. Government officials must avoid the tired debate over whether such games are ones of skill or ‘luck.’
How Europe, US can solve Internet privacyEurope’s highest court ends an agreement that allows data to flow freely between the EU and the US. Both sides must now find ways to build trust into data collection and lower fears of a loss of privacy.
The value, and values, of a Pacific trade pactNearly a decade in the making, the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement will shape up-to-date rules for 40 percent of the world economy. Its benefits are mainly in tying the US, Japan, and others to set the highest values for global commerce.
Oregon shooting: Is it time for national peacemaking?The mass shooting at an Oregon school again raises frustrations about the level of gun violence. Perhaps the focus should be on peace as something other than the absence of violence.
Will a humbled VW now adopt a leadership model of humility?Volkswagen’s emissions-deception scandal has exposed a culture of corporate hubris. Leadership experts say arrogance often brings down great companies. Can VW alter its culture to one that listens and learns?
The wafting influence of nonsmokers’ rightsThe number of nonsmokers worldwide keeps rising, a result in large part of a focus on the right to clean air. A basic freedom to breathe more easily helps many people to either quit smoking or not start up at all.
Lessons from UN development goalsFor its 70th anniversary, the UN adopted new social and economic goals for 2030, building on the successes of goals set for 2015. Expecting good results seems to be working, although Africa offers critical lessons.
How colleges can measure up in teaching ‘critical thinking’A new project shows professors can design ways to assess the success of colleges in teaching ‘critical thinking skills.’ Yet early results show students need colleges to better produce that important ‘learning outcome.’
The best answer to commercial cybertheftThe US-China summit last week produced an agreement on tackling commercial cyberespionage. The pact will only succeed if Chinese leaders now understand their people are quite capable of generating creative ideas, more so than stealing from others.
Colombia's breakthrough for peace and justiceA key agreement to achieve a final peace balances the need to end Colombia’s long civil war with meting out some justice for those who admit war crimes and affirm civil rights and peaceful means.
Europe’s hopes for fewer Greek tax dodgersIn a key election, Greeks returned Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to power knowing he must implement one vital reform demanded by the EU: a curb on tax evasion. This will take more than tough enforcement.
The road ahead for VW after its emissions deceptionNow that the world knows of Volkswagen’s deception about the emissions of its diesel cars, it should follow the model of reform of another German engineering giant, Siemens, after it was caught in a corruption scandal.
Why Syrian refugees don’t flee to Islamic State caliphateThe image of Syrians escaping to the West undercuts just one of Islamic State’s false narratives. The group’s many errors are eroding its allure, say defectors, hastening its demise. Containment by the West may be as effective as drones.
Next up as a region of peace: AsiaAs China and Japan shift their military postures, Asia must follow other regions that seek to become ‘zones of peace.’ It has a model in ASEAN, a body in Southeast Asia that for decades has presumed peace as the norm.
Merkel as ‘mother’ to a European conscienceGerman leader Angela Merkel keeps rising in moral authority with each new crisis: Greece, Ukraine, and now a flood of refugees. Ever mindful of its nationalist past, Germany finds a role in uniting Europe around universal values.
Syrian refugees as Trojan horse for Islamic State?In Europe and the US, many leaders stoke fears of Syrian refugees as hiding Islamic State fighters. Not only is this fear unfounded but it only helps IS in its recruitment.
Why new democracies still need foreign poll-watchersMyanmar’s welcoming of foreign election observers for its Nov. 8 vote reflects the progress in setting international norms for free and fair voting.
A calm center for the immigration debateEmotions are running high in Europe and the US about migrants or refugees. There is a way to keep a civil discourse.
