2 January 2016
Episode 104
27 minutes
Photo: Cédric Puisney
What are the biggest events to look forward to in 2016? Monocle’s Steve Bloomfield is joined by guests Isabel Hilton, Quentin Peel and Oscar Guardiola-Rivera to discuss the year ahead in current affairs.
2 January 2016
Share episode
DownloadWant more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle's email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
The Foreign Desk - latest episodes
China’s surveillance state
Everybody is subject to a certain amount of surveillance, whether it’s CCTV cameras in our streets or websites monitoring our online movements to better sell advertising. But what happens when governments use this inform…
Explainer 169: What is going on in Moldova?
Until last week, Moldova had a crisis caused by a failure to form a government. Now it has a crisis caused by a government being formed. Andrew Mueller explains how events unfolded and looks at what might happen next.
Democracy: the Middle East and north Africa
At the start of this decade, thousands of protesters took to the streets across the Arab world seeking to bring down oppressive regimes. But filling the subsequent power vacuums didn't prove easy and many countries have…
Explainer 168: Australia’s first Indigenous minister for Indigenous Australians
For the first time in the 50-odd years that the role has existed, Australia’s minister for Indigenous Australians is an indigenous Australian. This may seem surprising; or not, given Australia’s less-than-perfect history…
The war on fake news
Since the term “fake news” exploded into the common lexicon in 2016 it has been at the forefront of many political agendas. But thanks to resistance to internet regulation, and a lack of basic knowledge among many internet…
Explainer 167: Why has Trump ramped up his war on the environment?
As the White House prepares to complete the rollback of the most significant federal effort to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, the latest move in Donald Trump’s attack on the environment, Ed Stocker asks why he has become…
What does the Freedom party scandal mean for Austria?
Just days before the European parliament elections, seen by many as a referendum on populist parties across the continent, a video of Austria’s vice-chancellor – and leader of the far right FPO – was leaked, seemingly…
Explainer 166: Was Australia’s shock election result really that shocking?
As the results of Australia’s federal election were counted on Saturday night, those expecting a win for the left-wing Labor party had a bit of a shock. Despite years of opinion polls suggesting that opposition leader Bill…
The US vs Iran: why now?
The US and Iran have never really been close. But over the past few weeks tensions have flared, leading to fears of open confrontation between the two. But where did the animosity begin and what are they fighting about this…
Explainer 165: Trump’s trade war: who stands to lose most?
As President Trump continues to fire shots in his ongoing trade war with China, Andrew Mueller asks if there’s any chance of him coming out on top – and who really loses if not.
Are South Africans losing patience with the ANC?
South Africa is gripped by political-corruption scandals, soaring unemployment and a continuation of the racial inequalities that the ANC fought so hard to overcome. Is the ruling party running out of ideas?
Explainer 164: What happened to democracy in Benin?
The tiny west African country has been, in recent memory at least, a bastion of democracy. But just before this month’s elections, a new law effectively stopped all political parties but two – both favoured by the president…
Coups d’etat: do they ever really work?
Coups d’etat have been enjoying something of a renaissance. But who really gains when they go right? What happens when they go wrong? And can it ever be guaranteed that the grass is greener on the other side?
Explainer 163: What is the One Nation party, and why won’t it go away?
As Australia prepares for the upcoming federal election, Andrew Mueller discusses one particular party that has endured more than its fair share of controversy – and he doesn’t feel sorry for it.
Ukraine’s new president: who’s laughing now?
No Ukrainian election has been as closely watched as last weekend’s presidential run-off. But was comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s landslide victory all about him or was it a rejection of the establishment?
