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
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…
Politics on stage
Steve Bloomfield hosts the first in a series of programmes looking at politics and the arts. Today we turn to politics and theatre. What is the relationship between the two? What exactly is ‘political…
Israel’s Arabs
After the Joint Arab List’s success in this year’s election in Israel, we discuss what’s changed for Arab citizens in the country’s public and political life – and what happens next. Thabet Abu Ras…
Is Germany destroying its reputation?
In recent years Germany has become Europe’s de facto leader and Angela Merkel the continent’s most respected politician. But the Greek crisis threatens to change that. Germany has been accused of humiliating Greece and…
The Responsibility to Protect
What happened to the norm of The Responsibility to Protect that emerged after the world said ‘never again’ to the conflicts of the 1990s? With guests James Traub, Megan Schmidt and Aidan Hehir.
Orbán’s Hungary
Steve Bloomfield and guests Péter Krekó and Ágnes Kövér profile politics in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary and reflect on the rise of the far-right party Jobbik. Plus poet and translator George Szirtes discusses the significance…
The new Spanish Revolution
What does it take to turn a protest movement into a potent electoral force? Steve Bloomfield talks to Emilio Sáenz-Francés and Eduardo Suarez about the rise of Spain’s Podemos and the country’s political revolution.
Jokowi’s Indonesia
Steve Bloomfield and guests discuss whether President Joko Widodo has lived up to the expectations of Indonesians and the international community.
Azerbaijan and the European Games
As Baku hosts the European Games, Steve Bloomfield talks to Ramute Remezaite and Emin Milli about the crackdown on civil society in Azerbaijan. Plus: sports writer David Goldblatt reflects on the interaction between sports,…
Eritrea and the Mediterranean crisis
Almost a quarter of the migrants who cross the Mediterranean come from Eritrea. Monocle’s executive editor Steve Bloomfield chairs a powerful discussion with Martin Plaut from the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, Feruz Werede, an…
