All The Monitor's View
Trump’s mixed message on immigration: An opening for a deal?The president’s approach is both tough and flexible, a sign he may be open to a comprehensive solution with Congress to ease fears about US policy.
In the most populous Muslim nation, a test of toleranceVoters in Indonesia’s capital may elect a Christian as governor, perhaps sending a message to much of the Muslim world about a religious test for secular leaders.
Romania’s lesson in public integrityFor weeks, protests against corruption have persisted in Romania because people now realize they hold the key to good governance.
The UN’s step for justice in SyriaThe United Nations has begun to collect evidence of war crimes in the Syrian conflict, a necessary step for eventual prosecution and the post-war healing of Syrian society.
A lesson on UN peacekeeping – from HaitiSecurity in Haiti has improved enough that the UN might soon pull out its forces. One reason: a novel approach to reducing neighborhood violence by listening to community concerns.
Winning the hearts of Islamic State’s potential recruitsAs it has lost ground, the militant group issued a strategy on ways for Muslims to operate as its online activists. The best counter strategy? Positive messaging.
The West’s challenge: an ‘axis of fear’Trump’s foreign affairs officials meet with other Western leaders for the first time this week. The big theme: the rise of voter fear in the US and Europe, reflected in nationalist politics. Germany’s leader has an answer for that.
The call for citizens to ‘go local’In both the US and EU, a populist backlash against centralized power has revived interest in local activism, which often comes with an ethical imperative for neighborliness.
A simple truth about countering fake newsAs the US and Europe try new efforts against Russian disinformation, they can learn how citizens in Ukraine have been equipped to embrace the truth.
A model to mend Europe’s nationalist cracks?Even as nationalist parties rise in Europe, the island of Cyprus is trying to end 43 years of division between ethnic Greeks and ethnic Turks. If a split Cyprus can unify, might it set an example?
Just rewards of Brazil’s anti-corruption triumphsThe prosecution of a huge scandal and popular demands for honest government have finally brought enough reforms to help revive Latin America’s largest economy.
Trump's moment to push hard work over 'luck'Despite his record as a casino builder, the president faces choices on whether to end federal bans on online gambling, possibly even sports betting. The economy needs policies that promote hard work and talent over a belief in ‘chance.’
Denmark’s envoy to the global ‘other’In appointing a special ambassador to tech giants like Apple and Facebook, Denmark fits a pattern of engaging with global issues and forces, not self-isolating in fear.
A shout-out for honesty in EuropeHundreds of thousands of Romanians protested over a government move to quell investigations of corruption. Having made so much progress against graft, they took a stand for clean governance.
How Trump can keep peace in cyberspaceAs he prepares to revamp US cybersecurity, he must prevent other nations from fearing the US capability and creating a cyber arms race.
Canada’s response to a mosque massacreThe killing of six Muslims in Quebec brought vigils, prayers, and other moments of solidarity between mosques and churches. This reaction often plays out worldwide because houses of worship find common purpose against acts of hate.
An Arab model for a US debateAs Americans fight over Trump’s travel bans on Muslim countries, Tunisia shows an inclusive debate over keeping terrorists in check.
The way to debate Trump’s orders on migrantsImmigrant bans and new walls need not be contentious if each side recognizes they both seek to solve the root cause of mass migration.
Not only people are being liberated from Islamic StateAs Iraq retakes its second-largest city, it made a point of raising a flag at Mosul University, which the militants had all but destroyed. Such schools teach the virtues for running modern societies in the Mideast.
Path of patience toward North KoreaTrump will be the fourth US president to deal with a nuclearized North Korea. More sanctions might help, but a regime defector points to the use of patience as more North Koreans are dissenting.
