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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
Has the Confederacy finally surrendered?
More than 150 years after the US Civil War ended, Mississippi has decided to haul down the state flag that bore the Confederate battle standard. But are we witnessing more than just cosmetic alterations? Is the South really changing? And if so, how? Andrew Mueller speaks to Charles K Ross,…
Has populism been found out?
The pandemic is a populist’s nightmare: a virus makes no ideological distinctions and requires expertise and patience to defeat. In Brazil, at least 50,000 people have died while a populist president blusters – a situation echoed in the US, the UK and elsewhere. Has populism been unmasked? Andrew Mueller is…
The Philippines: Rodrigo Duterte goes after the messengers
The conviction of prominent journalist Maria Ressa is yet another worrying sign of the Philippines’ direction under Rodrigo Duterte. Andrew Mueller talks to Sheila Coronel and Richard Heydarian about Duterte’s assault on democratic norms and to Carlo Bonura about the populist president’s so-called independent foreign policy.
Jeffrey Sachs and the future of globalisation
We talk to leading economist – and advisor to three UN secretary-generals – Jeffrey Sachs about his new book, ‘The Ages Of Globalisation: Geography, Technology and Institutions’, which tracks globalisation through history to the present time. Is this the peak from which globalisation descends? Is this an opportunity to make…
Black Lives Matter: a tipping point?
The killing of George Floyd has resulted in protests across the US and the world. Andrew Mueller is joined by Charles H Ramsey – former Washington police chief and co-chair of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which was set up by Barack Obama – to consider how the…
Is this China’s world now?
Has the pandemic accelerated China’s plans? Andrew Mueller talks to James Chambers about the escalating situation in Hong Kong, to Beijing journalist Sophia Yan about China’s plans elsewhere and to former diplomat John Everard about how other countries can usefully – and tactfully – try to change China’s behaviour.
Remember Brexit?
The devastating impact of coronavirus has, quite rightly, become the top priority of the EU and the UK. But Brexit is still happening. The current transition period is due to end on 31 December and the 30 June deadline for extending that transition is looming. Does a global pandemic make…
Socially distanced democracy
How do you hold elections during a pandemic? What impact does it have on voters? And what effect might it have on the result? Andrew Mueller is joined by Lukasz Lipiński, Ryan Williams and Victoria Kim.
The myth of exceptionalism
The US and the UK both think of themselves – and each other – as exceptional nations. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, however, they have both been badly hit – and criticised for their slow response. Have they been caught out by the idea that things like this…
What can the world learn from Taiwan?
Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu talks to Andrew Mueller about his country’s successful response to the Covid-19 outbreak, why Taiwan wants to join the World Health Organization and why the status quo in its relationship with China remains the best option for both. Plus: Sophia Yan in Beijing tells us…
