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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. Nominated for ‘Best Current Affairs’ show and the ‘Spotlight Award’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards.

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Iran: an unstoppable movement?:

For more than two months, Iran has been rocked by protests ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsi Amini at the hands of the morality police. The unrest has continued steadily as women and a disproportionately young generation seek a better way of life. Why have these protests proved so durable and will it break the regime? Andrew Mueller speaks to Ramita Navai, Negin Shiraghaei and Holly Dagres.

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4663 Dec 2022
30 min

Iran: an unstoppable movement?: 

For more than two months, Iran has been rocked by protests ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsi Amini at the hands of the morality police. The unrest has continued steadily as women and a disproportionately young generation seek a better way of life. Why have these protests proved so durable and will it break the regime? Andrew Mueller speaks to Ramita Navai, Negin Shiraghaei and Holly Dagres.

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★30 Nov 2022
7 min

Explainer 344: Cracks in a fragile China: 

Unrest has been brewing in China, where the threat of a heavy-handed police state is usually enough to dissuade dissent. Andrew Mueller explains why there are protests – and why now.

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46526 Nov 2022
30 min

NATO’s revival: 

Once declared “brain-dead” by Emmanuel Macron, NATO has been rejuvenated by the conflict in Ukraine. In this special episode, Andrew Mueller speaks to General Philip Breedlove, NATO’s former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and General Sir Richard Shirreff, NATO’s former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

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★23 Nov 2022
6 min

Explainer 343: Turkey vs the PKK: 

Andrew Mueller explains Turkey’s longstanding and violent feud with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

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46419 Nov 2022
30 min

Why aren’t there more women in politics?: 

While female representation in politics has improved in recent years, gender parity remains a distant dream. Women comprise more than half of the global population but only 26 per cent of lawmakers around the world are female. Why aren’t there more women in politics? And what will it take to finally shatter the glass ceiling? Andrew Mueller speaks to Iceland’s minister for foreign affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Dr Meryl Kenny and Lance Price.

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★16 Nov 2022
8 min

Explainer 342: Qatar World Cup: how did we get here?: 

Why would Fifa host the World Cup in a country that not only has a hostile climate for sport and abuses human rights but has also never taken part in the competition? Andrew Mueller tries to explain.

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46312 Nov 2022
30 min

Historical series: The Trojan War: 

In part three of our historical series, we travel back to the Bronze Age to revisit the Trojan War. Why did the Trojans fall for the Greeks’ wooden-horse stunt? Andrew Mueller speaks to Hannah Lucinda Smith, Jane Draycott and Daisy Dunn.

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★9 Nov 2022
6 min

Explainer 341: Meddling China : 

Andrew Mueller explains the allegations that China is influencing democratic elections in the West.

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4625 Nov 2022
30 min

Historical series: Easter Rising: 

In part two of our historical series, we travel back to 1916 to chart the Easter Rebellion. What was happening in Ireland and how did the British authorities not see this coming? Andrew Mueller speaks to Bríona Nic Dhiarmada, Quentin Peel and John Dorney.

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★2 Nov 2022
6 min

Explainer 340: Benjamin Netanyahu’s election comeback: 

Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be on course to lead the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. Andrew Mueller unpacks the former prime minister’s dramatic political comeback.

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46129 Oct 2022
30 min

Historical series: The Sputnik crisis: 

In part one of our historical series, we travel back in time to 1957 to unpack the Sputnik crisis. What did this new satellite foreshadow, and how did the Soviet Union do it? Andrew Mueller speaks to Henry Rees-Sheridan, Tom Nichols, Mark Galeotti and Linda Dawson.

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★26 Oct 2022
6 min

Explainer 339: Why won’t Israel send weapons to Ukraine?: 

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Israel for not sending military aid to Kyiv. Andrew Mueller examines Israel’s reluctance to send weapons and where this comes from.

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46022 Oct 2022
30 min

Jens Stoltenberg: 

This week’s special guest on The Foreign Desk is NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, whose role has unexpectedly been extended for a year in light of current events. Andrew Mueller asks Stoltenberg for his thoughts on Russia-Ukraine, China and NATO expansion.

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★19 Oct 2022
7 min

Explainer 338: Jamaica’s music ban: 

The Jamaican government has banned certain music, and other culture broadcasts, in an attempt to curb the country’s issues with violence. Andrew Mueller looks to recent history to explain why this probably won’t work.

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45915 Oct 2022
30 min

Warsaw Security Forum: Part 2: 

In the second of our special episodes recorded at the Warsaw Security Forum, Andrew Mueller sits down with Angela Merkel’s former foreign policy advisor, Belarus’s opposition leader and Luxembourg’s deputy prime minister.

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