Affairs / Podcast

The Foreign Desk

Presented by Andrew Mueller, Monocle 24’s flagship global-affairs show features expert guests and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Winner in the ‘best current affairs’ category of the 2018 British Podcast awards.

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Could Colombia’s generosity to migrants inspire others?:

Colombia’s president Iván Duque Márquez has announced that the country will grant nearly one million undocumented Venezuelan migrants the right to stay for 10 years, arguably a surprising move by a conservative government. Might other governments take notice of this compassionate and pragmatic pitch? In a world rebuilding itself, could a more enlightened, albeit opportunistic, policy towards migration make sense? Andrew Mueller is joined by Anastasia Moloney, Panu Poutvaara and Tessa Szyszkowitz.

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Episode	Date	Description	Download	Play
★	3 Mar 2021 5 min	Explainer 255: Sentencing Sarkozy: Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted for attempted bribery and potentially faces more legal consequences for other crimes of corruption. While the domestic ramifications are likely to be small, Andrew Mueller explains how it may be significant for countries struggling with corruption.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
374	27 Feb 2021 30 min	Could Colombia’s generosity to migrants inspire others?: Colombia’s president Iván Duque Márquez has announced that the country will grant nearly one million undocumented Venezuelan migrants the right to stay for 10 years, arguably a surprising move by a conservative government. Might other governments take notice of this compassionate and pragmatic pitch? In a world rebuilding itself, could a more enlightened, albeit opportunistic, policy towards migration make sense? Andrew Mueller is joined by Anastasia Moloney, Panu Poutvaara and Tessa Szyszkowitz.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
★	24 Feb 2021 6 min	Explainer 254: Genocide – why won’t world leaders call it what it is?: To enact genocide is to commit the most heinous of crimes deserving the strongest of consequences. But calling it out comes with ramifications. Andrew Mueller explains why most leaders will call it anything but ‘that’.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
373	20 Feb 2021 30 min	Modi’s agricultural reforms: the last straw?: For the past six months, Indian farmers have been protesting against agricultural reforms that they say will destroy their way of life. This week, the arrest of a young environmental activist who supported them sparked international outrage. We examine what the protests are about and ask how Narendra Modi’s response fits into a pattern of government by disruption. Andrew Mueller is joined by Shruti Kapila, Joanna Slater and Kapil Komireddi.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
★	17 Feb 2021 7 min	Explainer 253: Guantanamo Bay – here to stay?: The terrorist detention facility is arguably the most controversial prison in the world. Obama proclaimed he’d close it; Trump swore to add to it. Neither got what they wanted. Why? And what can Biden do with it now?	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
372	13 Feb 2021 30 min	Is something shifting in Russia?: In the wake of widespread winter protests across Russia, we look at how Alexei Navalny became the figurehead for opposition to Vladimir Putin. Are the ongoing protests building momentum? And, if so, is real change becoming more likely? Andrew Mueller is joined by Nataliya Vasilyeva, Andrei Kolesnikov and Mark Galeotti.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
★	10 Feb 2021 5 min	Explainer 252: Somalia’s political problem: Somalia failed to hold elections before the term of incumbent president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ended on Monday. Andrew Mueller explains the ramifications for the already fragile country.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
371	6 Feb 2021 30 min	Who is the ‘international community’?: On Monday morning, the military seized control of Myanmar and detained the country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other politicians. The international community responded with condemnation and threats of consequences. But what do we actually mean by “the international community”? What power does it have? And do Myanmar’s generals – or anyone else – really care what it thinks? Andrew Mueller is joined by Aye Min Thant, Daniel Russel and Paul Rogers.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
★	3 Feb 2021 6 min	Explainer 251: The Greene party: The Trump era is over but congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has sprinted forward to take the baton. Is the GOP able to distance itself from her QAnon conspiracy theories or is her popularity too valuable? Andrew Mueller explains.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
370	30 Jan 2021 30 min	Tahrir Square, 10 years on: Ten years after Egyptians rose up against long-ruling dictator Hosni Mubarak during the first hopeful weeks of the Arab Spring, we look at why it didn’t work out as the protesters might have hoped and ask if the energy of Egypt’s revolution is still alive anywhere. Andrew Mueller is joined by Nancy Okail, Ahmed Naji and Lyse Doucet.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
★	27 Jan 2021 8 min	Explainer 250: Jerry Rawlings: Andrew Mueller looks back on the eventful life of Ghana’s longest-serving president.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
369	23 Jan 2021 30 min	What’s next for Uganda?: Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has been declared the winner in a general election. We look at what it means for the future of Ugandan politics and the country's youthful population. What will Museveni’s sixth term look like? And where does this leave his opponent, Bobi Wine, and his supporters? Plus: a short history of Museveni’s rise to power. Andrew Mueller is joined by Angelo Izama, Ingrid Nantege and Frederick Golooba-Mutebi.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
★	20 Jan 2021 5 min	Explainer 249: The future of migrant caravans : A migrant caravan travelling from Central America to the US has been halted by military personnel in Guatemala, prompting speculation about the success of future migrations under the Biden administration. Andrew Mueller explains.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
368	16 Jan 2021 30 min	Vacci-nations: As coronavirus vaccine programmes begin rolling out around the world, we explore a nation’s duties, interests and opportunities to do it quickly and efficiently. What is a government’s duty towards its citizens – and, in a global crisis, to the world? Who should get it first? And how might vaccines be used to pursue national and diplomatic advantages? Andrew Mueller asks Arthur Caplan, Sarah Wheaton and Allison Kaplan Sommer.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play
★	13 Jan 2021 6 min	Explainer 248: Qatar: the end of the Gulf’s grudge match: After years of being ostracised by its fellow Arab countries, Qatar has rapidly been welcomed back into the fold. Andrew Mueller explains the reasons behind this sudden change of heart.	Download Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Share via email	Play

Affairs / Podcast

The Foreign Desk

Latest episode

Latest episodes

Explainer 255: Sentencing Sarkozy:

Could Colombia’s generosity to migrants inspire others?:

Explainer 254: Genocide – why won’t world leaders call it what it is?:

Modi’s agricultural reforms: the last straw?:

Explainer 253: Guantanamo Bay – here to stay?:

Is something shifting in Russia?:

Explainer 252: Somalia’s political problem:

Who is the ‘international community’?:

Explainer 251: The Greene party:

Tahrir Square, 10 years on:

Explainer 250: Jerry Rawlings:

What’s next for Uganda?:

Explainer 249: The future of migrant caravans :

Vacci-nations:

Explainer 248: Qatar: the end of the Gulf’s grudge match:

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