Sponsored by
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
Do we still need international summits?
With so many international summits taking place it’s hard to keep up, let alone remain interested. The recent meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, however, reignited the media’s passion for a handshake photo opportunity. Was the interest focused on the politics, or just the novelty of seeing two unlikely…
Explainer 119: Who is really going to win the World Cup?
Lifting the trophy at the end of the World Cup would be great, sure. But for the 31 other countries taking part, all will not be lost when their time in the tournament is done. The underdogs, the unexpected victors, the villains – every team, and therefore country, is entering…
Who is killing Mexico’s mayors?
The run-up to Mexico’s elections in July have been far from ordinary: many of the candidates have been killed and even more have decided that it isn’t worth the risk. But is this just part of the election process in one of the world’s most violent countries or does the…
Explainer 118: Why is Bashar al-Assad going to North Korea?
When North Korean state media announced this week that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was to visit Kim Jong-un the world reacted with a collective ‘Huh?’ But the two leaders have plenty in common and, as Andrew Mueller explains, this won’t be the first time the countries have co-operated.
Do sanctions really work?
Sanctions are a good way for a country to show that they are unhappy with the way another country is acting but who do they really punish? And are they just the easy option? Andrew Mueller is joined by Andrea Berger, Shashank Joshi and Nahlah Ayed.
Explainer 117: What does a high-speed railway project have to do with diplomacy in Southeast Asia?
One of Southeast Asia’s largest infrastructure projects has stalled. But, as our Asia editor at large Kenji Hall explains, the high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore was about far more than a quick connection across the border.
EU enlargement: one out, who’s in?
The UK is still hellbent on leaving the EU. Meanwhile, Macedonia and Albania are set to be the next countries to join the union. As with any organisation, however, growing too large comes with its own set of risks. So how many members is too many? Why would anyone want…
Explainer 116: Does the student press still matter?
Student newspapers have long played a part in shaping the conversation on campus, as well as, sometimes, nationally. But is the rise of online journalism and ever-decreasing budgets putting that at risk? Our Toronto bureau chief Tomos Lewis hopes not.
Does China really want to rule the world?
China is fast becoming, if it isn’t already, the world’s next superpower. But how questionable are the methods it’s using to sustain its influence over those it seeks to control, and does it really want to be leader of the not-so-free world? Andrew Mueller is joined by Isabel Hilton, Steve…
Explainer 115: Why are there so many international summits?
Apec, Brics, EEC, Saarc – the list goes on, and you’d be forgiven for finding the abundance of international summit acronyms overwhelming. Our Hong Kong bureau chief thinks it’s time for a spring clean.
