23 December 2017
Episode 207
30 minutes
Photo: Shutterstock
We look back through the archives to tell the story of a tumultuous year, from Donald Trump’s erratic presidency and troubles in the Middle East to the rise and fall of populism in Europe and some questionable referendums.
23 December 2017
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
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…
Explainer 245: 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’.
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…
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?
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
Explainer 250: Jerry Rawlings
Andrew Mueller looks back on the eventful life of Ghana’s longest-serving president.
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…
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…
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…
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.
The Foreign Desk Live: where do Trump’s supporters go now?
In this special live edition of ‘The Foreign Desk’ Andrew Mueller is joined by Suzanne Lynch, Cynthia Miller-Idriss and Jeffrey Howard to discuss the aftermath of the siege of the US Capitol building. Who were the groups…
