28 September 2019
Episode 299
30 minutes
Photo: Shutterstock
Arab Gulf states owe much of their geo-strategic importance to fossil fuels. But even the most oil-soaked petro-kingdom knows that the wells will cease gushing eventually. If the Gulf becomes a centre of renewable energy, what will that mean for the region’s politics? Andrew Mueller is joined by Mehran Kamrava, Jim Krane and Caline Malek.
28 September 2019
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
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…
Explainer 247: The fight for the Central African Republic
CAR president Faustin-Archange Touadéra has been re-elected for another term. However widespread violence from militias purportedly under the direction of former president François Bozizé look set to undermine his premie…
2021: Back to normal… or is it?
We look ahead to 2021. Even after Joe Biden becomes president and a vaccine has been rolled out, will things go back to what we thought of as normal or has the definition of normal changed? What will post-pandemic life look…
2020: The year in review
It hasn’t been an easy 12 months to keep up with, but ‘The Foreign Desk’ has done its best. We pick out our highlights in an attempt to make sense of the 21st century’s weirdest year yet.
Ami Ayalon on the two-state solution
The retired admiral and former director of Israel’s Shin Bet security service talks about his book ‘Friendly Fire: How Israel Became its Own Worst Enemy’. It is a memoir criticising Israel’s counterterrorism policies and…
Explainer 246: How does the electoral college work?
Joe Biden was officially voted in as president-elect this week. Andrew Mueller explains what the electoral college is, why it matters, and what the recent vote means for president Donald Trump
Australia vs. China: a cautionary tale?
Tensions between Australia and China have noticeably worsened this year. Andrew Mueller asks Beijing-based journalist Sophia Yan what lies behind the ongoing spat – and former Australian prime minister and China specialist…
Explainer 245: Japan – Love is in the AI
As Japan faces a rapid decline in its native population, the government turns to Artificial Intelligence to help nature along. But, as Andrew Mueller explains, this may be treating a symptom rather than the cause.
The United Kingdom: United no more?
After Brexit, coronavirus and other shocks, how long can the United Kingdom hold together? Is momentum for Scottish independence accelerating? Where is Wales heading? Might Northern Ireland want to join the Republic of…
Explainer 244: Who killed Mohsen Fakhrizadeh?
Andrew Mueller explains why the who, what, how and why of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s assassination – and why it depends on who you ask.
Soft Power 2020
As the latest issue of Monocle hits newsstands, we take a close look at the magazine’s annual Soft Power Survey, which considers how well countries project themselves abroad. Andrew Mueller is joined by Megan Gibson, Chiara…
Explainer 243: What do we know about Joe Biden’s cabinet?
As Joe Biden unveils his first cabinet picks, Andrew Mueller talks us through the candidates and explains what it tells us about Biden’s plans for the US’s role in the world.
