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The Foreign Desk
Monocle’s global-affairs show with Andrew Mueller. Expert guests, in-depth analysis, and sharp commentary on major geopolitical issues.
Latest Episodes
Mohamed Fahmy
In his first full interview since leaving Egypt after his release from prison, former Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy talks to Steve Bloomfield about his fight for freedom.
Russia in Syria
As Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria intensifies, questions are raised over who Vladimir Putin is really targeting; we take a careful look at what his ambitions in the region might be. Our guests are Monocle’s Moscow correspondent Joshua Yaffa, former Russian diplomat and current Chatham House fellow Nikolay Kozhanov and…
Canada’s political attack ads
From the outside, the world of Canadian political attack ads is bemusing; from the inside it’s a vital part of any successful campaign. Misquoting your opponents, lambasting their policies or insulting their hair – it’s all in a days work. Ahead of elections in October, Steve Bloomfield sits down with…
When Europeans were the refugees
In the wake of the migrant crisis currently affecting Europe, we look back to the times when Europeans were the ones seeking refuge. From those who left for political reasons to those with their eyes on the economic future, there’s one thing that bounds them all together: they probably wouldn’t…
Whistleblowers: Exposing the truth
Grand corruption, missing billions, and state-sponsored violence: would you turn a blind eye or blow the whistle? Monocle’s Steve Bloomfield hears from three whistleblowers to learn how they discovered the truth and how exposing it changed their lives.
Millennium Development Goals
Fifteen years after the Millennium Development Goals were set, it’s time for a review. Monocle’s foreign editor Steve Bloomfield chairs a discussion asking if these targets for global development worked. Michela Wrong and Simon Maxwell join the debate and question whether this box-ticking approach is the best way to measure…
Rwanda’s Paul Kagame
Despite his dubious approach to democracy and his role in regional conflict, Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame has received the ear and praise of many world leaders. Why? Steve Bloomfield asks his guests Phil Clark and Vincent Gasana. Plus: investigative journalist Linda Melvern reflects on allegations made against Kagame after the…
Politics on the big screen
In the final episode of our series on politics and the arts, we turn to film. From drama to documentaries, what makes for great political cinema? And who decides whether or not a film is labelled “political”? With ‘Best of Enemies’ co-director Robert Gordon, film journalist Karen Krizanovich and Toronto…
Politics on the small screen
In the third episode of our series on politics and the arts, we turn to television. From ‘Borgen’ to ‘The West Wing’, what makes for a great political drama? And what grabs audiences? With ‘Borgen’ producer Camilla Hammerich, ‘West Wing’ writer Michael Oates Palmer and political drama producer Richard Keddie.
Politics on the page
In the second episode of our series looking at politics and the arts, we turn to literature. What makes for a political novel? Who decides? And what is the future of political fiction? With writers Gabriel Gbadamosi, Vesna Goldsworthy and Jonathan Freedland.
