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
Will the Adani affair hurt Narendra Modi?
As India gears up for its general election next year, anger over the Adani empire led by Gautam Adani, a Modi ally, is growing. Will the Adani affair cast a shadow on the prime…
The global ageing crisis: are we ready?
Many developed nations face a looming ageing-population crisis. What are governments doing to cope with this global trend that poses major political and economic challenges? Andrew Mueller speaks to Agnès Poirier, James Raymo, Marie…
Lula 3.0: what lies ahead for Brazil?
Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s president for the third time in January in a stunning comeback following four years of Bolsonaro’s far-right government. The newly inaugurated president now faces…
No defence: Germany’s military reluctance
This week, Germany found itself needing a new defence minister amid criticisms for not agreeing to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks. Why is Germany still so afraid of taking a military stance? Is…
A climate for conflict: how the environment shapes warfare
The environment and the climate are factors in every conflict; the changing of the seasons has been arguably decisive on many occasions. How have militaries learned to adapt? How can those lessons be applied…
The rise of paradiplomacy
One usually thinks of diplomacy as something conducted at state level by presidents and prime ministers. But nation-states are no longer the sole actors in the international arena. Cities and sub-state governments are transforming…
Looking back at 2022 and forward to 2023
We look back on the big events of the past 12 months and peer ahead to next year. Andrew Mueller speaks to John Everard, Aliona Hlivco, Alex von Tunzelmann and Lada Roslycky.
Softly Does It
As Monocle’s annual Soft Power Survey hits the newsstands, we consider the established and bizarre ways that countries project themselves abroad, from panda diplomacy and royalty to the craft of culinary persuasion. Andrew Mueller…
Christmas in Finland: Santa, saunas and songs
In this special Christmas episode, we head to the homeland of Santa Claus to examine some of Finland’s wonderful festive traditions. Andrew Mueller sits down with the country’s former president Tarja Halonen, Mr Claus…
Qatar World Cup: a sportswashing own goal?
This year’s Fifa World Cup in Qatar has a strong claim to be the most controversial football competition ever. Amid relentless criticism over the nation’s human-rights record, has Qatar’s soft-power push backfired? Andrew Mueller…
