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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
The legacy of colonialism
Countries that were colonised don’t tend to forget – but for the colonisers it’s a little more complicated. We look at three different periods in colonial history: Belgium and Congo; Portugal and Angola; and the UK and India.
Explainer 61: If Theresa May wins the election, will she win big?
The UK prime minister’s decision to hold a general election in June makes political sense. However, if she wins but her victory is not as impressive as she hopes, will it all have been worth it?
What does the election mean for France?
As Europe’s next big election draws closer, France has a choice to make: socialist, far-right populist or straight down the middle. But what are the issues that matter to the only people who matter, and is there anything the candidates can do at this late stage to win over the…
Explainer 60: What Donald Trump means for Congo
Congo’s presidential election was supposed to happen last year as Joseph Kabila’s second five-year term came to an end – but he doesn’t want to stand down. Under President Obama the US took a leading role in putting pressure on Kabila to step aside. But what happens now?
The French election and Europe
France’s presidential election has 11 candidates, from established parties and no party at all. The winner will not just take France in a new direction but will also have a major impact on the future of Europe as a whole.
Explainer 59: The new partnership at the heart of Europe
If Emmanuel Macron is elected as the French president next month it could revive one of the most important relationships in global politics: the Franco-German axis.
The future of Ireland
The UK and Ireland have a long and bloody past but since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 the countries have remained mostly at peace. But since Britain’s exit from the EU, the relationship between the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has become murky…
Explainer 58: Donald Trump’s big diplomatic test
We’ve seen how Donald Trump’s administration dealt with Australia, Germany and the UK. If this is how he deals with his closest allies, how will he act when it comes to Turkey and China?
After Mosul
The battle for Mosul was supposed to be over by now but the coalition has found it harder than it predicted. The toll has been great: hundreds of civilians have died and tens of thousands have fled. What happens next?
Explainer 57: Why Trump needs the media
As the fallout from the US secretary of state Rex Tillerson’s tour of Asia shows, treating the media like the enemy can cause problems.
