The Monocle Minute

As long as the US is the world’s pre-eminent economic and military power, its presidential election will always be consequential to international affairs. This year, however, is probably the most geopolitically significant contest since the end of the Second World War. Many, especially those in Europe, believe it is a question of Republican isolationism vs Democratic interventionism; that a victory for Donald Trump will see a diminishment of the Atlantic alliance, both materially and politically; while a triumph for Kamala Harris will mean continuity, or even a strengthening of institutions such as Nato.

When it comes to geopolitics, the Harris-Trump face-off is one of predictability vs chaos. A Harris White House will cleave close to Washington’s traditional allies and redouble efforts to supply Ukraine in its war against the Russian invader. The foreign policy of a second Trump administration is, like the man himself, far more difficult to predict. Will he follow through on his threat to withdraw the US from Nato? I’m doubtful even he knows the answer to that question. One thing Trump will almost definitely do is double down on economic protectionism – he has recently claimed that he loves the word “tariff”. This will almost certainly spark a trade war with the EU. But can the bloc be surprised when it is flirting with such measures itself?

The thing that is often lost amid the hand-wringing over Trump in European capitals is that there is no shortage of world leaders who might even prefer him to win. These include Israel, India and Saudi Arabia – all allies of the UK and EU. Indeed, though many commentators speak of Washington’s waning influence, the fact that the world is so polarised over this election shows how significant the US remains as both a lodestar for our collective political disintegration and a canvas onto which billions project their hopes and fears. Whoever wins next week, one thing we can say for sure is that the world won’t be the same.

Alexis Self is Monocle’s foreign editor. For more opinion, analysis and insight subscribe to Monocle today.

As the US marches toward the 2024 election, all eyes will be on Wisconsin – a key swing state whose modest 10 electoral votes have outsized influence. Once a Democratic stronghold, it flipped to Trump in 2016, only to return to Biden in 2020 by a wafer-thin margin. This year, Wisconsin’s outcome could once again set the tone for the nation. At the heart of voter concerns are economic shifts.

While the state’s manufacturing legacy is woven into its identity, younger voters now prioritise green energy, healthcare and education. Rural communities remain attuned to agricultural policy and subsidies, while urban centres are increasingly focused on public safety and infrastructure. While both parties pour resources into outreach here, the balanced mix of priorities makes this political battleground an essential litmus test for the mood of the American heartland. The candidate who wins the Badger State might well be the one who best understands how to balance tradition and transformation.

Italian naval training ship Amerigo Vespucci will be raising its sails to depart Singapore this afternoon, after spending four days docked in the city’s harbour. The full-rigged vessel, which has been in service since 1931, is on a two-year world tour that will conclude when it returns to Italy next summer. During its stay in Singapore, a sprawling “Villaggio Italia” pop-up appeared near the docks, where visitors could sip Italian wine, feast on pizza and cool down with a gelato. There was also an Italian design exhibition and Singapore-based Italian pop singer Matilde G performed a concert.

Modelled after a 19th-century ship, the Amerigo Vespucci is celebrated for its distinctive, old-fashioned beauty. Naval enthusiasts were treated to tours onboard, which attracted long queues. Italy is a country that has more soft-power influence than most. Top-tier cultural showcases such as this are a reminder why.

Encouraged by a teacher who had lived in Paris, bookseller Penelope Fletcher moved to France and, in 2001, opened The Red Wheelbarrow bookshop in the 4th arrondissement. After closing for a few years, it reopened in 2018 at its current location opposite the Jardins du Luxembourg. The Canadian has now been a Parisian bookseller for almost two decades. “There is a culture of bookshops here,” Fletcher told The Monocle Minute on a recent visit.

The Red Wheelbarrow’s eclectic offering has grown to span three adjacent shopfronts, including one dedicated to children’s titles. Fletcher floats from one to the other, fetching copies or warmly guiding customers. “People see bookshops like pharmacies,” says Fletcher. “They’ll come in and say, ‘I’m not feeling very happy right now, I’d like something light’.” But the idea of a universal literary prescription doesn’t seem feasible to Fletcher: “It’s like asking a dentist, ‘What dental work do you think everyone should get?’ You can’t do that.”

For more Parisian literary business stories, pick up a copy of Monocle’s Novemberissue, which features our dedicated series on beloved bookstores in the French capital.

Monocle travels to Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest (and Africa’s richest) city. In recent years the city’s image has been one of dysfunction. Big businesses moved to the suburbs in the 1980s and 1990s. During the coronavirus pandemic its politics imploded and several long-brewing infrastructural crises spilled over simultaneously. The May national elections did little to steady the ship. Yet Monocle meets a slew of creatives and entrepreneurs who are stubbornly pushing back with new initiatives aimed at rebuilding the city’s brand.

Subscribeto read thefull articleor pick up a copy of Monocle’s Novemberissue, which is available online and on newsstands now.

This week’s episode is dedicated entirely to umami. First up, we sit down with Christopher Beckman, whose new book dives into the history and potency of anchovies. Also on the programme: Monocle’s Canberra correspondent, Aarti Betigeri, tastes Australia’s divisive spread, Vegemite. Plus: we unearth the bountiful possibilities of cooking with fungi with Sam White, executive chef at Fortnum & Mason.