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 212: Why is Lesotho’s prime minister really standing down?
It’s not unusual for prime ministers to resign. It is unusual for prime ministers to resign in the hope of avoiding murder charges. Andrew Mueller considers the astonishing scandal consuming Lesotho.
International aid organisations and the pandemic
We meet the director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the international president of Médicins San Frontières to hear how some of the world’s poorest and most dangerous places are adapting to the pandemic. And we’ll hear from Yemen, a country highly dependent on international aid.
Explainer 211: Does Iraq have a new prime minister at last?
As Iraq names its third prime minister-designate in 10 weeks, Andrew Mueller analyses the country’s political deadlock and looks at Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s chances of keeping the job.
South America and coronavirus
Coronavirus had some way to travel to reach South America but it got there. And for distinctive national reasons, some of the continent’s countries look more vulnerable than others. We hear from our correspondents and experts about Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.
Explainer 210: Why is the US threatening to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty?
As the US threatens to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, Andrew Mueller asks whether it’s yet another victim of Trump’s aversion to international cooperation or if there’s more at play.
The geopolitical consequences of Covid-19
As the US abandons its role as global leader, which countries are seeing an opportunity to fill the vacuum? In this episode Monocle’s editor in chief Tyler Brûlé talks to Nader Mousavizadeh, co-founder and co-CEO of Macro Advisory Partners to take a global look at the pandemic and how it’s…
Explainer 209: Viktor Orbán’s power grab
Coronavirus was always likely to provide cover for budding authoritarians wishing to shore up their positions. Is Hungarian democracy another victim of the outbreak?
A century of multilateralism
If we date modern multilateralism from the founding of the League of Nations, it is an idea which celebrates its hundredth birthday this year. As the world attempts to tackle a global crisis, what have our multilateral institutions learned? Andrew Mueller is joined by Sarah Cliffe, Edward Girardet and John…
Explainer 208: Abkhazia chooses a president… again
Andrew Mueller discusses an unusual election in the post-Soviet breakaway state of Abkhazia.
The Covid-19 recession
The Covid-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health emergency but it is also an economic crisis. Economist Vicky Pryce and finance analyst Louise Cooper measure the potential recession and discuss possible solutions, while former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd outlines how to lead a country through an economic shock.
