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 217: How will Benjamin Netanyahu survive his trial?
As the trial begins of Israel’s long-serving prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Andrew Mueller explains what the charges are why Netanyahu is still in the job.
Remember Brexit?
The devastating impact of coronavirus has, quite rightly, become the top priority of the EU and the UK. But Brexit is still happening. The current transition period is due to end on 31 December and the 30 June deadline for extending that transition is looming. Does a global pandemic make…
Explainer 216: Afghanistan’s power-sharing deal
Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah have signed a power-sharing deal that ends months of political uncertainty. Andrew Mueller wonders if this really will bring the kind of change that the country desperately needs.
Socially distanced democracy
How do you hold elections during a pandemic? What impact does it have on voters? And what effect might it have on the result? Andrew Mueller is joined by Lukasz Lipiński, Ryan Williams and Victoria Kim.
Explainer 215: Why were Chinese and Indian troops having a border brawl?
After Chinese and Indian troops stage a cross-border fistfight (and not for the first time), Andrew Mueller explains how the dispute began and asks whether this is likely to escalate further, or if it’s just a case of bored boys being boys.
The myth of exceptionalism
The US and the UK both think of themselves – and each other – as exceptional nations. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, however, they have both been badly hit – and criticised for their slow response. Have they been caught out by the idea that things like this…
Explainer 214: Who tried to overthrow Nicolás Maduro?
Earlier this week, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro survived a coup attempt, which appears to have been organised by a former US Green Beret (who has also worked as a bouncer for Donald Trump). Andrew Mueller has a valiant stab at making sense of this.
What can the world learn from Taiwan?
Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu talks to Andrew Mueller about his country’s successful response to the Covid-19 outbreak, why Taiwan wants to join the World Health Organization and why the status quo in its relationship with China remains the best option for both. Plus: Sophia Yan in Beijing tells us…
Explainer 213: Can Mikheil Saakashvili return to power in Ukraine?
As Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky offers the former Georgian president a deputy prime minister’s seat, Andrew Mueller takes a look at Saakashvili’s questionable track record.
Coronavirus vs privacy
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the world, many governments are seeking to extend powers of surveillance to contain the outbreak. How can democracies protect their citizens’ health as well as their privacy? We look at worldwide concerns for privacy rights and see if Germany is once again on the…
