Contributors
A selection of this magazine’s creators.Spheres of influence
Andrew Tuck introduces the issue.The Opener
Protest music in Iceland, the UK talks turkey and why some authors get cabin fever.Hook, line and winter
How Finland’s chilly pastime teaches valuable lessons in patience.Just add water
The sculptor Anish Kapoor on what it takes to find personal and artistic freedom.Cold comfort
Meet the crew of a luxury ship that’s breaking ice in the Antarctic.
Affairs
The stories you should be paying attention to – and the ones you might have missed.Business
The economics of happiness, Canada’s sparkling success and dressing to impress.Culture
The power of putting pen to paper and the Berlin record label bringing Middle Eastern and North African music to the fore.Design
A gallery-cum-showroom in São Paulo and why Dubai is the next big design destination.
Soft Power Survey 2023/24
Monocle’s ranking of the countries that have mastered the art of subtle influence.Security Survey
Amid global tensions and divisions, we meet some of the people across the world working to keep the peace.Protect and serve
Making people feel secure is more important than ever. We shine a light on five firms that are doing it right.Top draw
Illustrator Hamo tells the tale of how Franco-Belgian comics became a charming soft-power tool.Going out with a banger
Toe-tapping tunes for a festive party, late-night boogie or a cool morning run.The great beyond
Monocle speaks to Mikael Bertelsen, the Danish TV executive rewriting the script for the small screen and selling his home nation’s TV formats abroad.Iowa Guide
It may be the state’s long history of living off the land but Iowans are up-with-the-sun kind of people, ready to roll up their sleeves and set to work. Indeed, this has become Iowa’s pitch as an industrious crossroads of east and west, attracting newcomers with a lower cost-of-living and safe cities.Domestic harmony
A warm welcome can go a long way. Meet the architects who are putting the principle at the heart of their Swiss apartment.House rules
As the weather turns colder, get the inside track on cosy living.Tree radicals
Furniture designers speak about the challenges facing the woodworking industry.Tools of the trade
Hermès is working to put France’s leather-making tradition back on the map.Creative resistance
We profile three Ukrainian fashion-brand owners and entrepreneurs who are refusing to allow the war with Russia to derail their businesses.Trading places
How a new generation of shops is helping to keep in-person shopping alive.Rich pickings
Monocle’s must-have list to get you and your loved ones through the winter months.
Christmas Shopping: Budapest
Budapest, Hungary’s postcard-perfect capital, is home to no end of Christmas gifts. We source the best and brightest for the holidays.City Gift Guides
The Monocle team’s favourite shopping stop-offs for the festive season, from Dubai and Milan to London and Los Angeles.Christmas Recipes
From baked camembert with truffle croutons to all things roasted, here’s what to cook to warm up this season.Legends in the baking
Five bakeries whose creations have become part of their cities’ festive traditions.
Monocle’s bumper December/January double issue surveys the world’s most influential nations, from the European country with visa-free travel to 190 states to the Asian outpost with a crooning president. Elsewhere, we reveal the history of French animated storytelling with a comic of our own and plot a course for a fruitful festive shopping spree in a city near you.
Issue 169
December 2023/January 2024
At the front
Contributors
A selection of this magazine’s creators.Spheres of influence
Andrew Tuck introduces the issue.The Opener
Protest music in Iceland, the UK talks turkey and why some authors get cabin fever.Hook, line and winter
How Finland’s chilly pastime teaches valuable lessons in patience.Just add water
The sculptor Anish Kapoor on what it takes to find personal and artistic freedom.Cold comfort
Meet the crew of a luxury ship that’s breaking ice in the Antarctic.
The Agenda: Global briefings
Affairs
The stories you should be paying attention to – and the ones you might have missed.Business
The economics of happiness, Canada’s sparkling success and dressing to impress.Culture
The power of putting pen to paper and the Berlin record label bringing Middle Eastern and North African music to the fore.Design
A gallery-cum-showroom in São Paulo and why Dubai is the next big design destination.
Global views: Long reads
Soft Power Survey 2023/24
Monocle’s ranking of the countries that have mastered the art of subtle influence.Security Survey
Amid global tensions and divisions, we meet some of the people across the world working to keep the peace.Protect and serve
Making people feel secure is more important than ever. We shine a light on five firms that are doing it right.Top draw
Illustrator Hamo tells the tale of how Franco-Belgian comics became a charming soft-power tool.Going out with a banger
Toe-tapping tunes for a festive party, late-night boogie or a cool morning run.The great beyond
Monocle speaks to Mikael Bertelsen, the Danish TV executive rewriting the script for the small screen and selling his home nation’s TV formats abroad.Iowa Guide
It may be the state’s long history of living off the land but Iowans are up-with-the-sun kind of people, ready to roll up their sleeves and set to work. Indeed, this has become Iowa’s pitch as an industrious crossroads of east and west, attracting newcomers with a lower cost-of-living and safe cities.Domestic harmony
A warm welcome can go a long way. Meet the architects who are putting the principle at the heart of their Swiss apartment.House rules
As the weather turns colder, get the inside track on cosy living.Tree radicals
Furniture designers speak about the challenges facing the woodworking industry.Tools of the trade
Hermès is working to put France’s leather-making tradition back on the map.Creative resistance
We profile three Ukrainian fashion-brand owners and entrepreneurs who are refusing to allow the war with Russia to derail their businesses.Trading places
How a new generation of shops is helping to keep in-person shopping alive.Rich pickings
Monocle’s must-have list to get you and your loved ones through the winter months.
Inventory & Expo: Where to go, buy and eat
Christmas Shopping: Budapest
Budapest, Hungary’s postcard-perfect capital, is home to no end of Christmas gifts. We source the best and brightest for the holidays.City Gift Guides
The Monocle team’s favourite shopping stop-offs for the festive season, from Dubai and Milan to London and Los Angeles.Christmas Recipes
From baked camembert with truffle croutons to all things roasted, here’s what to cook to warm up this season.Legends in the baking
Five bakeries whose creations have become part of their cities’ festive traditions.
