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Curated by Project Syndicate

Toxic Social Media

16 commentaries

Evidence that Russia has used social media to spread fake news is emerging in Britain and Europe, in addition to the United States. Writers for Project Syndicate explore the origins and scope of the threat to democratic countries, and examine possible remedies.

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  1. The Pandora’s Box of the Digital Age
    South Korea missile Getty Images

    The Pandora’s Box of the Digital Age

    Nov 16, 2017 Carl Bildt says cyber weapons are the nukes of the digital age, except that the old rational rules no longer apply.

  2. Facing the Four Structural Threats to US Democracy
    US election Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    Facing the Four Structural Threats to US Democracy

    Nov 10, 2017 Laura Tyson & Lenny Mendonca show how political dysfunction in Washington, DC, can be bypassed through state and local action.

  3. How Americans Became Vulnerable to Russian Disinformation
    Two students encourage others to join 'Democracy and Citizenship Club' Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images

    How Americans Became Vulnerable to Russian Disinformation

    Nov 7, 2017 Kent Harrington says the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election was symptomatic of bigger problems.

  4. Freeing Africa’s Internet
     Clients surf the internet in Congo Federico Scoppa/Getty Images

    Freeing Africa’s Internet

    Nov 6, 2017 Kizito Byenkya & Alex Humphrey highlight the proliferation of government efforts to control speech online – and how repression can be resisted.

  5. Big Tech Meets Big Government
    Facebook, Google and Twitter executives testify before congress Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    Big Tech Meets Big Government

    Nov 2, 2017 Mohamed A. El-Erian warns tech firms that if they don't recognize their systemic importance, they may face a powerful backlash.

  6. Fake News and Biased News
    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe answers questions during a short press interview Kazuhiro Nogi/Getty Images

    Fake News and Biased News

    Oct 31, 2017 Koichi Hamada condemns media in Japan and elsewhere that use their final cut to manipulate rather than to inform.

  1. castaneda88_GERARDO MENOSCALAFP via Getty Images_latin america safety GERARDO MENOSCAL/AFP via Getty Images

    From Welfare State to Safe State in Latin America

    Jorge G. Castañeda & Carlos Ominami urge the region’s progressives to start treating security as an essential component of social protection.
  2. ocampo57_Celal GunesAnadolu Agency via Getty Images_imf Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    The Urgency of Sovereign-Debt Restructuring

    José Antonio Ocampo highlights the need for a comprehensive mechanism to deliver relief to low- and middle-income countries.
  3. fischer215_Mostafa AlkharoufAnadolu via Getty Images_tel aviv iran attack Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images

    The Gaza War Goes Global

    Joschka Fischer

    The escalating war in the Middle East must be understood in a broader context. The fact that the Iranian regime felt emboldened to risk a direct strike on Israel attests to a changing world order in which Western power is increasingly open to challenge.

    considers the implications of Iran’s unprecedented decision to launch a direct strike on Israeli territory.
  4. nyirinkindi1_ISAAC KASAMANIAFP via Getty Images_women phone fintech ISAAC KASAMANI/AFP via Getty Images

    Gender-Neutral Fintech Isn’t Working for Women

    Emmanuel Nyirinkindi & Jessica Schnabel show that the industry is not fully delivering on its promise to accelerate financial inclusion.
  5. evans72_Alex WongGetty Images_palestine statehood Alex Wong/Getty Images

    The Urgency of Palestinian Statehood

    Gareth Evans explains why formal international recognition is crucial to ending the intolerable status quo.
  6. schiffrin10_Mark WilsonGetty Images_journalists Mark Wilson/Getty Images

    Quality Journalism Is More Important than Ever

    Anya Schiffrin, et al. explain how policymakers can support rigorous, objective reporting, just as they provide other public goods.
  7. wei60_MANJUNATH KIRANAFP via Getty Images_india population MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP via Getty Images

    Is India’s Economy Overhyped?

    Shang-Jin Wei argues that the country’s rapid development, while undeniable, conceals deeper structural problems.
  8. krake1_Celal GunesAnadolu via Getty Images_spring meetings Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Negotiating a Bigger, Better World Bank

    Michael Krake & Wempi Saputra explain how a new framework will nudge countries to invest in projects that deliver global public goods.
  9. redford1_Getty Images_earth conservation Getty Images

    The Ozone Layer’s Recovery Shows How to Protect the Planet

    Robert Redford & Xiye Bastida highlight the critical role of international cooperation in preserving the planet’s habitability.

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