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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
Explainer 239: Erdogan’s war on liberté
The response of Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to the murder of Samuel Paty in Paris is characteristic of his culture war on freedom of expression. Andrew Mueller explains why that is both ironic and futile.
Coronavirus – what have we learned?
In much of Europe this winter feels depressingly like last spring: a spike in coronavirus transmissions and a surge in lockdowns and other restrictions. But are we any wiser about what works and what doesn’t? Or the costs of shutting down cities and countries? Andrew Mueller is joined by Chris…
Explainer 238: Who won in Bolivia?
In presidential and parliamentary elections last weekend, Bolivians voted overwhelmingly for Luis Arce, the leader of exiled former president Evo Morales’s socialist party. Andrew Mueller looks at what that means for Bolivia – and for Morales.
The Macron doctrine
President Macron always looked like he wanted to reassert France as a global power. As his presidency has overlapped with domestic crises consuming France’s traditional allies the US and the UK, he has found himself with even greater foreign policy opportunities than he might have anticipated. What kind of influence…
Explainer 237: I’ve got a ‘golden passport’
Cyprus has suspended its “golden passport” initiative after undercover ‘Al Jazeera’ journalists exposed a trail of corruption leading to Demetris Syllouris, president of the Cypriot parliament. Andrew Mueller explains.
Can Belgium survive?
After nearly 500 days of negotiations, Belgium finally has a national government. It consists of seven parties but excludes the two biggest – both Flemish nationalist parties. Is Belgium’s complex political system workable in the long term? And can the country hold together? Andrew Mueller asks Régis Dandoy, Carl Devos…
Explainer 236: What’s the deal in Kyrgyzstan?
Andrew Mueller dissects the ongoing situation in Kyrgyzstan after violent protests followed disputed election results.
Why has Nagorno-Karabakh flared up again?
Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought over Nagorno-Karabakh many times before. The renewed fighting this week seems more serious than usual, however, with both sides deploying heavy weaponry and weighty rhetoric. As casualties on both sides mount, and as Turkey and Russia both take a close interest in the conflict, Andrew…
Explainer 235: Freedom or folly?
Quim Torra, the president of the regional government of Catalonia, has officially been disqualified from office for displaying a pro-independence banner. But, as Andrew Mueller explains, Spain’s attempts at quelling dissidents may be backfiring.
And finally, Florida
In the final episode in our series on the 2020 US presidential election, we take a close look at Florida, the most crucial of swing states. What makes it so volatile? How can Donald Trump or Joe Biden win there? And who is Florida Man? Andrew Mueller talks to Bianca…
