Officer class: Poland's military university

Throughout the long Finnish winter, the country’s ports are kept open by a small but determined fleet of icebreakers. Monocle Films hops on board to see how it’s done.

With its liberal and energetic approach to diplomacy, and a growing influence in art and sport, Belgium has plenty to offer on the world stage.

From a thriving economy to potent soft-power credentials, we unpack what keeps Canada on the up.

With a cosmopolitan capital, picturesque countryside and improving – albeit fluctuating – security, Lebanon is on the up.

Celebrations have been erupting in Ethiopia and Eritrea as their 20-year conflict comes to an end. We board the first flight between Addis Ababa and Asmara since 1998 to capture the mood as friends and families are finally reunited.

This east African anchor boasts world-famous writers and athletes but corruption and flawed infrastructure hold it back.

In our animated series we assess how the Dutch are performing on the world stage as well as at home.

Monocle's Steve Bloomfield and photographer Zed Nelson travel to São Tomé to report on the corruption and misguided ambition that have been a blight on the fortunes of this tropical African island.

The republic of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Caucasus lies in purgatory. Despite its violent history, peace and PR is seen as the fastest route to normality; we visited just before the flare-up in 2016 to see if it can succeed.

Once a byword for all that ailed African nations, Ethiopia is again playing to its strengths – and its booming capital, Addis Ababa, is at the centre of the resurgence.

With an exhibition of his artwork of war-torn Afghanistan opening at the Imperial War Museum North, artist and illustrator George Butler received a visit from Monocle films. His ink-and watercolour scenes bring a new depth to reportage more often the preserve of combat photographers.

In a war zone, even the hotels are targets. Monocle visits three high-risk hotels, including the Corinthia in Tripoli where nine people were killed in an attack last year.

The UN Security Council is the iconic roundtable heart of diplomacy that decides when to act on some of the globe’s most pressing issues. But is the historic body still fit for purpose? We paid a visit to its HQ to find out.

Puerto Rico is struggling with a faltering economy and an ongoing argument over its status as a US territory. Monocle meets the residents attempting to rethink the island’s future.

Warsaw’s dour-from-afar image is dispelling as a new generation of makers, restaurateurs and start-ups help to redefine Poland’s capital.

The Mokotow district in Warsaw has recently turned into a magnet for the capital's creative community. Monocle explores how a shared spirit is at the heart of the area's vibrant neighbourhood.