Thisispaper, Text Publishing, Danese, Do You Read Me?! and The American Book Center.

A new year, a clean slate, a fresh start; whether it’s shopping, travel or industry, this issue forecasts the best of 2014, and pinpoints the stories and opportunities that matter.

From Chile to the Philippines, Monocle meets five political heavyweights as they look back over 2013 and forwards to the various challenges of the year ahead.

From the boxing ring to parliament, Vitali Klitschko has not followed a conventional career path. Ukraine’s opposition politician tells us why he believes you must fight for a better future.

Around the world, some countries look beyond military might to exert a more nuanced influence. In our fourth annual soft power survey, we take the pulse of these subtle superpowers and ask if soft can thrive in hard times.

With a shortage of workers and an ageing population, Germany is turning to migrants to fill the void. Monocle meets the keen Vietnamese students learning German as they prepare for a new career abroad.

In 2014 Romanians will have the right to work throughout the EU. Will everyone leave? The locals insist they want to stay and fix their nation.

Making a workplace an enjoyable, productive environment doesn’t have to involve table football and thinkpods. These industrial spaces have got it right through the simple use of light, good architecture and a commitment to the people who make the product.

The struggling region of Oaxaca is tasting economic success with its burgeoning mezcal production. Monocle meets the spirited generation mixing rural tradition and business to create a Mexican brand with bite.

Collectors may only just be cottoning on but art is thriving in Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Bogotá, and with the help of Art Basel Miami Beach it is reaching new markets.

First published in 1992, ‘The Surfer’s Journal’ is more book than magazine. It’s a handsome, lovingly produced, defiantly old-school title that’s holding out against the incoming tide of digital culture.

With great power comes great responsibility – and when that power comes from taking over a precious family business the responsibility can be daunting. Not for these heirs though, who have embraced the challenge and are determined to nurture their heritage.

Challenges for Turkey, a new lease of life for Rotterdam and a rising star of Italian politics.

The to-do list of Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto, a look at the region's upcoming elections, new heights in New York and a politician to watch in Brazil.

Japan's agenda for 2014, why New Taipei's mayor could be the saviour of Taiwan's ruling party and how Ho Chi Minh City is reaching for the skies.

The tasks that await Australia's new PM, new urban projects for Auckland, why we might be hearing more from Tonga's King Tupou, plus a round-up of elections.

Three challenges for the Middle East, the changing fortunes of Tunis and Ghana's strangely controversial leader.

Booming in Burma, getting high in Spain, store wars in Thailand and fronts of knowledge in New Zealand.

So 2013 might not officially be over quite yet but it’s beginning to look a bit last year. With a distinctly impatient bent we check out some of the events, ideas and objects that are set to make 2014 (and Christmas) a special one.

From a train station in Vienna, whose design pays homage to the city’s rich musical history, to a futuristic university building in Düsseldorf, Monocle takes a look at the cutting-edge architectural projects that will complete in 2014.

Margaret Howell's new London shop, a Q&A with Man 1924's founder and new products and projects to watch.

As we leave one year behind and head into the next, 10 writers and academics ponder the issues that have pre-occupied us in 2013 and the ones that will crop up in 2014.

Despite having 13,000km of rail track, most of Turkey’s exports are transported by road or sea. Now, a freight-train pioneer wants to make the country king of the rails.

Bombardier is the family-run Canadian aerospace and rail-industry giant whose expertise spans generations. After weathering the financial crisis, Bombardier CEO Pierre Beaudoin is setting the firm’s ambitions ever higher.

The CEO of Sweden’s biggest and brightest morning paper insists that there is still a market for her product – for now.

We meet CEO of Artek, Mirkku Kullberg, the CEO of Tod’s Group, Diego Della Valle, and Indonesia’s minister of tourism and creative economy, Dr Mari Elka Pangestu, to hear how they're helping put the design industry at the heart of each of their countries' brand image.

National icon Gabriel Fagan’s home is a testament to his sensitive approach to vernacular architecture. Meet the man whose buildings celebrate the best of Cape Town’s people and culture as the city marks its title as World Design Capital.

From fashion and homewares to food and gifts, the white city offers a full complement of attractions for the committed consumer and gourmet alike.

Horst Brandstätter, owner of perennial childhood favourite Playmobil, enjoys the simple things in life: toys and Bavarian sausages.

Kashgar may look like just another chinese boomtown but the city is riven with ethnic tensions. monocle visits a frontier where tradition is clashing with change.

A city can’t improve its hand with ‘programming’, says Tyler Brûlé – real change in 2014 will be down to people and politics.