2019
July
11
Thursday

Monitor Daily Podcast

July 11, 2019
Loading the player...
Peter Ford
International News editor

In today's edition, we’ll explore shifting attitudes on immigration, the inspiring journey of a Sudanese refugee, the challenges facing Democrats vying for Latino votes, central European efforts to boost birthrates, and how humorist James Thurber was shaped by his hometown.

But first, diplomacy, by its nature, must be discreet to be effective. So when confidential cables from the British ambassador in Washington were leaked last weekend – revealing his unflattering views of the Trump administration – Sir Kim Darroch had little choice but to resign. Especially when Donald Trump tweeted, “We will no longer deal with him.”

He might have soldiered on till his retirement at year’s end, but what tipped the scales, it seems, was Boris Johnson’s refusal to back the ambassador during a televised debate. Mr. Johnson is widely tipped to become Britain’s next prime minister. He is also a champion of Brexit, pledging to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union next October, deal or no deal.

That policy, which would cut London adrift from the duty-free EU trade network, means Britain will be in urgent need of trade deals with other powers; the United States is top of Mr. Johnson’s list, though U.S. officials have indicated they intend to strike a hard bargain.

Could it be Mr. Johnson judged it politic to stay in President Trump’s good books for the sake of a trade agreement, even at the price of having “thrown our top ambassador under the bus,” as one British cabinet member put it?

Whatever his motives, this week’s events have thrown into stark relief just how many challenges Mr. Johnson will face, if indeed he becomes prime minister, as he tries to steer a new course for the United Kingdom.


You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.

Today's stories

And why we wrote them

Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Oralia Sandoval, center, holds her son Benjamin as she participates in an Immigrant Day of Action rally on May 20 in Sacramento, California. Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed offering government-funded health care benefits to immigrant adults ages 19 to 25 who are living in the country illegally.

With the nation roiled in controversy over immigration, California offers a case study in how changing demographics and evolving attitudes can reframe the issue over time.

SOURCE:

California Department of Finance, U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Research Center, Public Policy Institute of California

|
Jacob Turcotte/Staff

Which is better, education or experience? How about both? For Sudanese activist Mutasim Ali, the next stop in his quest for knowledge and influence is a second law degree in the U.S.

Karen Norris/Staff
Alan Diaz/AP
A group of Cuban Americans chant pro-Trump slogans as they demonstrate their support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Oct. 28, 2016, in Miami. President Trump’s immigration policies are not popular with Florida Hispanics. But fears of socialism could put enough in his column to tip the state.

President Trump’s immigration policy may seem like a deal breaker for Hispanic voters. But for many Venezuelan and Cuban immigrants in Florida, fears of socialism could tip the state in his favor.

For populist governments dealing with shrinking populations, the fastest way to grow – immigration – isn't seen as viable. But convincing women to have more children is easier said than done.

Tessa Berg/Special to The Christian Science Monitor
James Thurber’s family lived in this house from 1913 to 1917, while he was a student at Ohio State. It's now a literary arts center and museum.

Humorist James Thurber is often associated with New York, but his formative years in Columbus, Ohio, helped shape his approach to writing and drawing. Do hometowns mold an artist – or vice versa?


The Monitor's View

One turnaround story to watch in Africa these days is Gambia. Three years ago, the small West African state ousted a corrupt regime. It has since greatly improved its democratic governance. In a new survey by Transparency International, more than half of Gambians say their government is doing a good job in the fight against corruption. By contrast, more than half of all Africans say corruption is getting worse in their country.

“After 22 years of patrimonial rule, where the misuse of state resources was normal, Gambians seem to have placed their trust on their new democratically elected representatives, who have vowed to uphold political integrity and deliver results for ordinary citizens,” concludes Transparency International.

Gambia’s relative success helps break the myth that corruption in Africa is endemic. In fact, the same survey reveals this note of progress: 53% of Africans believe ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption.

The few African countries doing well against corruption, such as Gambia and Mauritius (which has the lowest bribery rate) can serve as role models. Yet other factors, such as new digital watchdog tools and a rising middle class, also account for the new optimism that individuals can bring about honest and accountable leadership.

The most important factor is integrity in the election process. Only 41% of citizens are satisfied with how democracy works in their country. The survey found 15% of Africans have been offered a financial incentive to vote for a particular party or candidate.

Still, says Richard Jurgens, editor of Africa in Fact, Africans’ approval of their leaders has slightly increased over the past 20 years. He cites better economies, internet activism, and urbanization as reasons. These trends compel citizens to ask questions about the motives of officials. They expose “cracks in leadership capabilities, the quality of public administration, inconsistencies in the rule of law and breaches of basic liberties,” he writes.

Africa is home to many of the world’s most corrupt nations. Yet “naming and shaming” countries or their leaders may not be enough. One alternative is to “name and frame” examples of success. Gambia is now one. The speed of its turnaround sends a message of a new moral norm. Just knowing what is both good and possible can motivate Africans to expect better of themselves and their leaders.


A Christian Science Perspective

About this feature

Each weekday, the Monitor includes one clearly labeled religious article offering spiritual insight on contemporary issues, including the news. The publication – in its various forms – is produced for anyone who cares about the progress of the human endeavor around the world and seeks news reported with compassion, intelligence, and an essentially constructive lens. For many, that caring has religious roots. For many, it does not. The Monitor has always embraced both audiences. The Monitor is owned by a church – The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston – whose founder was concerned with both the state of the world and the quality of available news.

Whether in school, at work, or in communities at large, exclusion of others can be all too common. But there is an alternative and even healing standpoint to the mistaken concept that love is a limited commodity.


A message of love

Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Dassault Rafale jet fighters of the French air force fly over statues of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel during a rehearsal for upcoming Bastille Day celebrations, in Paris, July 11, 2019. Bastille Day celebrations kick off on July 14 with a military parade along the Champs-Elysées and culminate in an evening fireworks display.
( The illustrations in today’s Monitor Daily are by Karen Norris and Jacob Turcotte. )

A look ahead

Thanks for joining us today. Come back tomorrow when we’ll have an article on the Jeffrey Epstein affair. People seeking justice against the rich and powerful have often faced an uphill struggle. This case offers some hope of progress.

More issues

2019
July
11
Thursday

Give us your feedback

We want to hear, did we miss an angle we should have covered? Should we come back to this topic? Or just give us a rating for this story. We want to hear from you.