In our second episode on Paraguay, we explore the state of the country after the Chaco War. In particular, we take a look at Stroessner's dictatorship, their alliance with the USA and Paraguay's current geopolitical leanings.

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In this episode, we head to the heart of South America to explore the past of a country that has an ongoing Marxist insurgency. We explore the past of Paraguay as a colony of Spain and its interaction with Jesuit missionaries. We further take a look at post-colonial Paraguay under dictatorial rule, its transition to democracy, and the formation of an initial division of parties between the Liberals and the Colorados.

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The last of three episodes on Poland, this takes a quick look at Poland's geography and economy. It focusses on the transition of the Polish economy in a post-communist state and on the market conditions that underline how Poland managed to avoid a recession after the 2008 crisis. 

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In this week's episode, we explore the causes of the rise of neo-populism in a post-communist Poland. The episode begins in the run-up to World War II and walks through the history of Poland as part of the Warsaw pact, highlighting the role of neo-liberal movements such as sovereignty. It finally looks at the causes for the election and re-election of Andrzej Duda.

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This week we begin with the first of three episodes on Poland. This episode traces the history of the Polish state from the Bronze Age and Antiquity, through the period, leading up to the first World War. It looks closely at the relations of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth as well as the history of religious tolerance within the state.

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This episode looks at the economic and geographic profile of Yemen. It highlights the lack of water resources, explicates the debilitating effect the humanitarian crisis has had on its economy, and touches on why its integration into multilateral bodies in the Gulf region might help it on the road to stability.

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In this episode, we turn our attention to the Arabian Peninsula and Yemen, the country experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The episode traces the history of religiopolitical conflict from the Jewish and Christian Yemenites to the modern-day conflict between the Houthis and the Hadi government. It walks through the Ottoman annexation of Yemen and the Yemeni civil wars of the 20th Century, ultimately unpacking the events that led to the current state of famine and war.

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This episode primarily looks at the geography and economy of Nepal. It briefly explores the consequences of its geographic landscape on its biodiversity and climate, while also browsing through the statistics and reforms that have come to characterise Nepal's economy.

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This week we take a look at the story of the landlocked country of Nepal. The episode explores the ancient, medieval, and contemporary history of Nepal and how that has shaped youth protests in the country and political tensions with India.

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Matter File presents the stories of individual countries to help understand the context behind their current state. It is a journey through history to explore what led to their current geopolitical and socio-economic landscape; because each country is a story worth telling.

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