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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
What’s missing from the US elections?
Let’s be honest, this has been a horrible American election. And while they are never bloodless discussions about policy, it would be nice to talk about some of the issues that really matter. So this week we do talk about them: healthcare, education and gun control.
Explainer 38: How the US votes
Scores of Americans have already voted thanks to many states that facilitate early voting. But once you’ve actually cast your vote, how much it counts really depends on where you are in the country.
Somalia votes
Somalia has been without a functioning government for more than 25 years. The fact that it is about to hold a presidential election should be seen as progress but the more you learn about how the election works the less excited you’ll be.
Explainer 37: Japan and Russia’s dispute over the Kuril Islands
In December Russian president Vladimir Putin will fly to Nagato for a summit with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. Ending Tokyo’s longstanding dispute with Moscow over the southern Kuril Islands will be a top priority. We discuss why.
Who is António Guterres?
António Guterres will be the next secretary-general of the UN. His appointment was surprising in a number of ways – for a start, he had the full public support of the Security Council. But it was also surprising because he’s no pushover. What sort of secretary-general will he turn out…
Explainer 36: Is Turkey’s future in Nato?
Although Turkey has been in Nato for more than 60 years and has its second-largest armed forces it has never felt entirely welcome. As President Erdogan rows with the West and makes friends with Russia, we ask whether his country’s future is in Nato.
The Dutch and the far-right
Next year one of the most liberal nations in the world, the Netherlands, will hold an election that could see a far-right politician come out on top. We learn how even if Geert Wilders wins it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll become prime minister.
Explainer 35: Should Japan have a seat on the UN Security Council?
Prime minister Shinzo Abe knows that in order for Japan’s voice to be heard he has to be as direct as possible. Last week, before he made his address to the UN, Abe wrote an op-ed making the case for Japan to be given a permanent seat on the United…
‘The Good Immigrant’
The immigration debate in the UK is, like in so many countries around the world, not known for its nuance. Charged with racism and the fear of ‘otherness’, it seems that a nation that was built on immigration should be better than this. A new book called ‘The Good Immigrant’…
Explainer 34: How the minor Bosnian-Serb referendum could have a major impact
The ethnic-Serb half of Bosnia is gearing up for a referendum that could exacerbate the already deep splits in the country. They will be deciding whether Republika Srpska Day should continue to be celebrated on 9 January each year. But there’s more to the vote than meets the eye.