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
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 of the great Hungarian novel ‘Satantango’.
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, human rights and politics.
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 Eritrean human rights activist and author James Montague, on this tiny nation, its dictator and those…
Crisis in the Mediterranean
Since the beginning of the year, 1,700 people have perished at sea and the International Organization for Migration believes that number might reach 30,000 by the end of 2015. In partnership with The Frontline Club, we bring together a panel of experts to discuss the unfolding crisis.
Freedom of movement
As some EU member states start to call the principle of freedom of movement into question, Monocle’s Steve Bloomfield chairs a discussion on where migration stands today. Featuring the Polish ambassador to the UK, Witold Sobkow; former UK home secretary Charles Clarke and the director of the Migration Observatory at…
Turkey votes
As Turkey prepares to head to the polls next month, Monocle’s Steve Bloomfield asks if this is the moment the country could change – and not for the better. Featuring author and political commentator Ece Temelkuran, Mustafa Akyol – a journalist and contributing opinion writer for ‘The New York Times’…
Who’s afraid of Margot Wallström?
As business leaders and Saudi Arabia start to feel the diplomatic show of force of Sweden’s new foreign minister Margot Wallström, Steve Bloomfield chairs a discussion on her feminist approach to foreign policy.
