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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.

Our Pick

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    Auto Strikes and Climate Change

    Mariana Mazzucato & Damon Silvers explain why the transition to a net-zero economy cannot happen without worker empowerment.
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    The New World Disorder

    Richard Haass highlights the growing threat to international stability and calls for effective cooperation.
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    Latin America’s Growth Conundrum

    Arminio Fraga, et al.

    Since 1960, only a few countries in Latin America have narrowed the gap between their per capita income and that of the United States, while most of the region has lagged far behind. Making up for lost ground will require a coordinated effort, involving both technocratic tinkering and bold political leadership.

     explain what it will take finally to achieve economic convergence with advanced economies.
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    We Need to Talk About Bank Supervision

    Howard Davies thinks the renewed debate over commercial bank capital requirements largely misses the point.
  5. skidelsky191_Hollie AdamsGetty Images_rorystewart Hollie Adams/Getty Images
    2

    The New Anatomy of Britain

    Robert Skidelsky laments the decline of UK institutions and the increasingly limited scope for meaningful action.
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    Financing Our Survival

    Vera Songwe

    Between now and the end of this decade, climate-related investments need to increase by orders of magnitude to keep the world on track toward achieving even more ambitious targets by mid-century. Fortunately, if done right, such investments could usher in an entirely new and better economy.

     explains what it will take to mobilize capital for the net-zero transition worldwide.
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    Whither the G20?

    Takatoshi Ito sees the grouping as increasingly divided between friends of the G7 and friends of China and Russia.
  8. kitaw1_Per-Anders PetterssonGetty Images_africamining Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images
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    Making the Most of Africa’s Strategic Green Minerals

    Marit Kitaw explains how the continent can move beyond resource extraction to build green industry.
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    America Must Join Europe’s Climate Club

    Gary Yohe & Roger Kuhns urge US policymakers to create a carbon-pricing policy in line with the bloc’s emissions-reduction plan.

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