For example, Ilya Ponomarev, a member of the Russian Duma, argues that social media make it easier for protesters in Russia to organise. (Russians spend more time on the internet than western Europeans, not least because they have no faith in state television.) This is true, but the secret police in many countries are equally excited about technology.

ECONOMIST: Schumpeter

The Kurds say that they simply have no faith that Mr Jaafari will act on his commitments.

ECONOMIST: Iraq

Whether there is a constitution or not, they expect the president to be the boss and have no faith in the institutions that should provide checks and balances and a voice for ordinary citizens.

ECONOMIST: Nigeria

The Vineyarders seem to have no theology they never try to reconcile reason with faith, nor do they try to account for the existence of evil in a world that is, presumably, ruled by a good God.

NEWYORKER: Seeing and Believing