20 October 2018
Episode 250
30 minutes
Photo: Shutterstock
When news broke earlier this month of the disappearance and alleged murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi the outcry was appropriately loud. But what about the war in Yemen, the human rights abuses, the support for terrorism around the world? These were seen more as inconveniences to global powers that wanted to do business with the House of Saud. Andrew Mueller, Bill Law, Rosemary Hollis and Shadi Hamid ask if, this time, the Saudis have gone too far – and what that could mean.
20 October 2018
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
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…
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.
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…
Explainer 343: Turkey vs the PKK
Andrew Mueller explains Turkey’s longstanding and violent feud with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.
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…
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.
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…
Explainer 341: Meddling China
Andrew Mueller explains the allegations that China is influencing democratic elections in the West.
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 Dhiar…
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.
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,…
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.
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…
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.
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…
