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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
Sportswashing: what is it and does it work?
As the inaugural Saudi Arabia Grand Prix kicks off in Jeddah, allegations of sportswashing have resurfaced relating to the country’s poor human rights record. What is sportswashing? What does it look like? And does it actually work? Andrew Mueller speaks to Paul Michael Brannagan, Areej Al Sadhan and Bruce Kidd.
Queen’s gambit: The future of Elizabeth II’s states
Barbados has officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state after 55 years living independently from the UK. The divorce was amicable among all parties and opens the door for more member states to do the same. Andrew Mueller explains how, and when, that might happen.
El Salvador bets on Bitcoin; what could go wrong?
Wearing a backwards baseball cap, El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele unveiled plans to build “Bitcoin City” at the base of a volcano and adopt cryptocurrency as legal tender. While supporters have hailed the president’s ambitions, not all Salvadorans “Feel the Bit”. Is Bukele’s big idea as mad as it sounds?…
Nordic Council of Ministers series, part nine: Preparedness
People in the Nordics often joke about global warming bringing better weather to a region not overly blessed with sun and warmth but, of course, climate change is already having a negative impact – and it’s probably going to get worse. In this episode of the Foreign Desk Explainer, in…
Albin Kurti: prankster to politician
Andrew Mueller is joined by Albin Kurti, the prime minister of Kosovo, for an in-depth conversation. They discuss the unusual challenges the country faces, its tumultuous relationship with Serbia and how a prankster became a politician.
Explainer 292: Lukashenko’s migrant warfare
Migrants hoping for a new life in Europe have been trapped at the Belarusian border for weeks, clashing with the authorities of countries such as Poland. Andrew Mueller explains what Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, who promised them easy access to the EU, stands to gain.
Confronting climate change: what actually works?
Climate change is not an issue that governments enjoy confronting. Nevertheless, the recent Cop26 summit and its predecessors have made it abundantly clear that the crisis is not going anywhere. In this episode of ‘The Foreign Desk’, Andrew Mueller speaks to people who know what it takes to keep politicians…
Nordic Council of Ministers series, part eight: Sustainable agriculture
As an economic sector, agriculture accounts for almost a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions but agreement on how to reduce that is proving difficult. In this episode of The Foreign Desk Explainer in association with the Nordic Council of Ministers, we hear from campaigners, farmers, ministers and foresters about…
War: what is it good for?
In this special episode, we explore an uncomfortable and challenging subject: war. Why do we fight wars? How does conflict shape us? And does human nature doom us to fight one another? Andrew Mueller sits down with celebrated historian, Margaret MacMillan.
The Tigray crisis: how did we get here?
Ethiopia’s government has declared a state of emergency as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front gains ground in Addis Ababa. Andrew Mueller explains how we got here.
