Articles

  • 2 weeks ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Stephen Kinzer

    Share Electing judges is a bad idea because it places popularity ahead of competence, experience, temperament, and other prized judicial qualities. Several countries, including the United States, allow election of some judges, but none has ever gone as far as Mexico. Mexican voters who go to the polls on June 1 will face a baffling array of ballots — more than half a dozen in some places.

  • 2 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | Stephen Kinzer

    Mexico is about to become the only country in the world where voters elect all judges. This “constitutional reform” was promoted as an anticorruption measure. It may have the opposite effect. Powerful economic interests and violent criminals, including drug lords, will now have easier access to the judiciary. The mass judicial election, scheduled for June 1, may be a turning point for Mexico. Rule of law has been weakening there for years. Electing judges threatens to weaken it further.

  • 1 month ago | bostonglobe.com | Stephen Kinzer

    Name a lovely Latin American country that’s smaller than Massachusetts. It’s dotted with charming mountain villages, produces fine coffee, and has great beaches. Can’t guess? Hint: It’s home to the biggest prison in the Western Hemisphere, and more than 1 percent of its citizens are behind bars. The government says none will ever be released. Until a few months ago, few Americans gave much thought to El Salvador.

  • 2 months ago | bostonglobe.com | Stephen Kinzer

    Wars are always ugly, but sometimes peace accords are ugly too. They often require excruciating concessions. This may be Ukraine’s future. In the aftermath of wars, former combatants seek peace and justice. These goals often conflict. From a Ukrainian perspective, justice would mean a recovery of lost territory and the withdrawal of Russian troops. That formula, however, would not bring peace, because Russia, which has the upper hand militarily, will not accept it.

  • 2 months ago | bostonglobe.com | Stephen Kinzer

    Who’s next? President Trump has stunningly upended US relations with France, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Panama, Canada, Mexico, and Denmark. Lately he has suggested that Iran might soon join the list. “There are two ways Iran can be handled, militarily or you make a deal,” Trump mused a few days ago. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I am not looking to hurt Iran.”Hurting Iran has been a key goal of American foreign policy for nearly half a century.

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Stephen Kinzer
Stephen Kinzer @stephenkinzer
7 May 25

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Stephen Kinzer
Stephen Kinzer @stephenkinzer
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Stephen Kinzer
Stephen Kinzer @stephenkinzer
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