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As Iranian protesters get sent to prison, many say it’s only steeled their resolve to take to the streets again. → Read More
As Taliban insurgents sweep across Afghanistan, the assassination of a defiant district governor is a case study in loss, but also courage. → Read More
In Iran, people are expressing unusual anger at the low value placed on girls’ lives by a patriarchal elite. → Read More
What does the Taliban’s “fight and talk” approach signal about the durability of an Afghanistan peace deal? → Read More
Observer or participant? When assessing change, frame of reference matters. So it is with the progress of Iran's women's movement. As one woman told us: “You don’t change a patriarchal society overnight.” → Read More
Reimposed US sanctions on Iran have, in the short term, led to hardship. But economic sanctions are an imprecise tool. Whether they can effect the desired change is a question of political resilience. → Read More
Recent street protests over Iran's economy seem to suggest the country could be vulnerable to outside pressure. But Iranians say the White House has miscalculated, resulting in increased unity instead. → Read More
Recent street protests over Iran's economy seem to suggest the country could be vulnerable to outside pressure. But Iranians say the White House has miscalculated, resulting in increased unity instead. → Read More
Sustained security threats, real or imagined, can harm democracy. In Turkey, President Erdogan ended a two-year state of emergency, but its contribution to his tight grip on power may be lasting. → Read More
Military vets and intelligence agents consider themselves patriots first and are supportive of the office of the presidency. But for some, it was hard to watch Trump’s summit with Putin. → Read More
The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, daily news briefing, and email newsletters. → Read More
Perhaps it's inevitable that even the most popular strongman loses his appeal. President Erdoğan chose early elections, but Turks are starting to signal they've had enough of one-man rule. → Read More
It's hardly surprising that US ultimatums directed at Iran have been answered in kind, with Iranians saying they will not be intimidated into constraining their regional ambitions. But listen closely, and you'll also hear more pragmatic voices. → Read More
The differences are striking: Blast walls are coming down and streets are reopening as Baghdad sheds the visual reminders of war's long grip. But is it enough to just wish peace into existence? Iraqis are keeping an eye on ISIS, but the fatigue with fighting and yearning for normalcy are changing the face of the city. → Read More
The Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Adel was the site of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Shiites at the height of Iraq's sectarian strife. But in a testament to the universal pull of "home," Shiite former residents have been trickling back, surfacing fond memories of the old days and recalling how some Sunnis helped them. First in an occasional series on Finding 'Home.' → Read More
The UN's new Yemen envoy says all sides desire a political solution. But Resolution 2216, which demands Houthi rebels disarm and withdraw, is being invoked to create an 'impossible precondition' for talks. → Read More
The Congress-appointed government watchdog for the war in Afghanistan is expressing the concern that the American people are not getting basic facts about the conflict. Analysts agree, and say it's not going well. → Read More
Western donors have spent heavily to improve women's lives in Afghanistan and teach them to fight for their rights. But the efforts would be more successful, some say, if they better fit the Afghan cultural context. Part 4 of Reaching for Equity: a global series on gender and power. → Read More
Laws to promote women's rights are on the books in Turkey. But as the mood grows more conservative, gender issues are out of the spotlight and activists fear the government is backsliding. Part 3 of Reaching for Equity: a global series on gender and power. → Read More
Iran's recent violent protests surged among the nation's poor, presumed bedrock supporters of the regime, who have been angered by recent crass displays of wealth by the elite and other perceived inequities. Even the opposition intelligentsia was surprised. → Read More