18 January 2020
Episode 315
30 minutes
Former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power also served as a foreign policy adviser for Barack Obama. She talks to Andrew Mueller about her memoir and discusses Obama’s foreign policy, Trump’s disruption of the diplomatic order and whether the US can reconcile its interests with its values.
18 January 2020
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
A new Ireland?
Last Saturday’s general election in the Republic of Ireland ended a solid, century-old political duopoly. Sinn Fein, the party best known as the political wing of the IRA, won more votes than Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. How…
Explainer 202: Did the president of El Salvador stage a coup d’etat?
The president of El Salvador stormed parliament at the weekend surrounded by armed troops. Opponents have accused him of attempting a coup d’etat. Andrew Mueller asks why someone already in charge would feel such a manoe…
Can Burkina Faso help itself?
Burkina Faso has its share of problems – not least a growing number of attacks by jihadist groups. But with a weak government and underfunded security forces, what options does the country have? Will further French military…
Explainer 201: Who was Mad Mike Hoare?
The true story of Mad Mike Hoare is a throwback to a time when foreign policy could be made by a planeload of middle-aged white guys with guns taking over entire countries. Although this business model is now – thankfully…
Antarctica: A place of peace and science
But for how much longer? Two hundred years after humans first glimpsed Antarctica, it remains a diplomatic anomaly, designated for science. Could the only continent on which a war has never been fought become less peaceful…
Explainer 200: Will Jared Kushner’s Middle East peace plan work?
No. No, it won’t. But that’s only if one assumes that the point of the plan is to actually provide a workable solution that suits both Israel and Palestine. Andrew Mueller looks at what could really be behind the so-called…
Who will take on Trump?
As the US Democratic party takes steps towards choosing who will attempt to win the presidency, Andrew Mueller discusses the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses and asks if they are up to the job. Andrew is joined by Kara…
Explainer 199: What’s driving Turkey’s foreign policy?
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, fresh from the Libyan peace talks, has signalled that his sights are now set on Somalia. Andrew Mueller asks what he hopes to gain from these partnerships.
Samantha Power: part II
Former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power also served as a foreign policy adviser for Barack Obama. She talks to Andrew Mueller about her memoir and discusses Obama’s foreign policy, Trump’s disruption of the diplomatic…
Explainer 198: What is Russia really doing in Libya?
Russian president Vladimir Putin might be better known for starting disputes than trying to solve them. But he has displayed an uncharacteristic interest in bringing the civil war plaguing Libya to an end. Why? Andrew…
Qassem Suleimani: the fallout
The effects of the assassination of Iranian military officer Qassem Suleimani and Iraq's Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad on 3 January are yet to be fully seen. What is known is that it reignited or reaffirmed many of the…
Explainer 197: What’s at stake in Taiwan’s election?
Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen looks set to be re-elected this weekend but it will be a tough term, with China seeking reunification while opinion on the island shifts towards independence. James Chambers asks what the…
2020: The year ahead
Andrew Mueller is joined by Isabel Hilton, Lina Khatib and Jeffrey Howard to discuss the challenges that 2020 will bring – and what to look forward to.
2019: the year in review
Andrew Mueller is joined by Isabel Hilton, Lina Khatib and Jeffrey Howard to discuss the highs and lows in global affairs in 2019.
Soft-power special: global leaders
Leading a country is no easy task, not only at home but also on the international stage. In a special episode Andrew Mueller is joined by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Yossi Mekelberg and Quentin Peel to discuss which global leader…
