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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
Autocracies and art
In part one of our summer series we explore the relationship between autocratic regimes and art. From lewd fantasy art collections and obscene home decor to the vast and impressive – not to mention expensive – state collections of Qatar. We ask why power and money rarely lead to good…
Explainer 76: Do political scandals still matter?
Whether it was a secret affair, colluding with the enemy or saying something they shouldn’t have near a microphone, when a scandal emerged politicians used to prepare for the end of their careers. But is that still the case – and if not, what could it mean for political integrity?
Trump: 42 months to go
Donald Trump’s first six months in the Oval Office have given us plenty to talk about. His policies aren’t passing, his tweets keep coming – and what about that wall? But accusations against him and his closest allies are building, so how long can it last?
Explainer 75: Communist beach party
Every August the inner circle of China’s communist party decamp to a woody coastal compound 300km east of Beijing. But is this just a chance to top up a tan or two or is it about political tactics and securing power?
Venezuela: can Maduro hold on?
Unofficial referendums, spurious elections, strikes and riots – the ongoing instability in Venezuela is taking its toll on the people that live there. But could things have been different? And what can be done to return the country to normality?
Explainer 74: Cultural boycotts
After a drawn-out media spat, Radiohead played a concert in Israel this week. But why were people so against it – and what were they hoping to achieve?
No place like home
In 1965 the UK separated the Chagos Islands, an archipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean, from Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory. Everyone living there was evicted and they have been fighting to return ever since. After a vote in the UN referred the matter to…
Explainer 73: The decline and fall of Chris Christie
After a term steeped in controversy, has the political career of the outgoing governor of New Jersey come to an end? And if so, what’s next?
Hong Kong’s 20-year handover hangover
Twenty years after the “one party, two systems” treaty guaranteed Hong Kongers’ democratic rights, we ask if China has kept its promises and whether the UK should have been a better advocate for its former colony. We get the verdicts from Lord Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong;…
Explainer 72: What’s next for Yuriko Koike?
The Tokyo governor’s political career is going from strength to strength despite pervading attitudes – but what’s next for her?
