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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
Russia’s disinformation war
Five years ago this week, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. As the investigation into what happened and Russia’s denial of any involvement continues, we look at the country’s modern propaganda apparatus – MH17 being a tragic illustrative example –…
A special relationship?
This week the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, resigned after confidential dispatches were leaked to the press. So how important is the relationship between these two countries now – and where is it heading? Andrew Mueller is joined by Edward Luce, Mara Karlin and Sir William Patey.
The climate culture war
For those Democrats hoping to run against Donald Trump in the 2020 election, the question of what to do about the accelerating climate emergency has become a key campaign issue. But with much of their opposition denying that climate change is even a problem and, as June 2019 would suggest,…
Islamophobia: a 21st-century hatred
Last year in the UK the Home Office recorded a 40 per cent increase in religious hate crimes – of which more than half were directed at Muslims. What does Islamophobia mean now for the people on the receiving end of it? And given the extensive media coverage of Islam…
Somalia: could the world be doing more?
It might feel as though the rest of the world has given up on Somalia. This is not, however, something the rest of the world can afford to do: the country’s perch on the Horn of Africa gives it extraordinary strategic importance. Though the money spent on Somalia has not…
China’s surveillance state
Everybody is subject to a certain amount of surveillance, whether it’s CCTV cameras in our streets or websites monitoring our online movements to better sell advertising. But what happens when governments use this information to learn things we might not even know about ourselves? China is at the forefront of…
Democracy: the Middle East and north Africa
At the start of this decade, thousands of protesters took to the streets across the Arab world seeking to bring down oppressive regimes. But filling the subsequent power vacuums didn’t prove easy and many countries have been left with similar problems – corrupt strongman leaders, military dictatorships – or worse…
The war on fake news
Since the term “fake news” exploded into the common lexicon in 2016 it has been at the forefront of many political agendas. But thanks to resistance to internet regulation, and a lack of basic knowledge among many internet users, hyper-partisan, extreme or completely fabricated news sites have found space to…
What does the Freedom party scandal mean for Austria?
Just days before the European parliament elections, seen by many as a referendum on populist parties across the continent, a video of Austria’s vice-chancellor – and leader of the far right FPO – was leaked, seemingly showing him offering a Russian contact government contracts in return for political favours. But…
The US vs Iran: why now?
The US and Iran have never really been close. But over the past few weeks tensions have flared, leading to fears of open confrontation between the two. But where did the animosity begin and what are they fighting about this time? Andrew Mueller is joined by Azadeh Moaveni, Holly Dagres…
