The Foreign Desk

By MonocleSociety & Culture News Education Government News Commentary Politics History

Favorites
161
Followers
Typical duration
27 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

The Foreign Desk episodes

January 01, 2022 Looking back at 2021 and forward to 2022
We look back on the big events of the past 12 months and peer ahead to 2022. Andrew Mueller speaks to Quentin Peel, Latika Bourke and Lewis Lukens.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 min
December 25, 2021 War and peas: the role of food in diplomacy
As millions of families tuck into their Christmas turkey and load up their plates with leftovers from the festive season, we examine the role of food in global politics. What is culinary diplomacy? Is the kitchen really the new venue for foreign policy? And what exactly goes into preparing the menu for a state banquet?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
37 min
December 18, 2021 Pandas, pangolins, and koalas: can animals be diplomats?
Exotic animals have long been used as unlikely but effective furry ambassadors to further a country’s international influence. Whether it’s China strategically loaning giant pandas as a gesture of goodwill, Australia flaunting the kangaroo as part of its national brand or Taiwan dispatching pangolins to Prague, animals have been used as diplomatic tools for centuries. How does animal diplomacy actually work? How does one Fedex a wild animal? And what can animals teach humans about global cooperation?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
36 min
December 15, 2021 Merry Christmas, war is over?
Almost 80 years since North Korea signed an armistice deal, South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-In, has announced that talks are in progress officially to end the war between the two states once and for all. Andrew Mueller explains why this is happening now, and, if it’s likely to happen at all.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 min
December 11, 2021 Is Bosnia on the brink of breaking up?
Will Bosnia break apart? Andrew Mueller speaks to Guy De Launey and Irma Baralija, as well as ambassadors Vanja Filipovic and Bruce Berton.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
37 min
December 08, 2021 Nordic Council of Ministers series, part ten: Decarbonising industry
The decarbonisation of industry is perhaps the greatest challenge we face in the race to achieve carbon neutrality. Think of it as the invisible stuff, the ugly stuff and the boring stuff we’d probably rather not think about: shipping, construction, steel, data processing and so on. In this episode of The Foreign Desk Explainer in association with the Nordic Council of Ministers, we will hear from the Nordic companies that are attempting to achieve carbon neutrality and create a paradigm shift in their industries.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 min
December 04, 2021 Sportswashing: what is it and does it work?
As the inaugural Saudi Arabia Grand Prix kicks off in Jeddah, allegations of sportswashing have resurfaced relating to the country’s poor human rights record. What is sportswashing? What does it look like? And does it actually work? Andrew Mueller speaks to Paul Michael Brannagan, Areej Al Sadhan and Bruce Kidd.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
33 min
December 01, 2021 Queen’s gambit: The future of Elizabeth II’s states
Barbados has officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state after 55 years living independently from the UK. The divorce was amicable among all parties and opens the door for more member states to do the same. Andrew Mueller explains how, and when, that might happen.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 min
November 27, 2021 El Salvador bets on Bitcoin; what could go wrong?
Wearing a backwards baseball cap, El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele unveiled plans to build “Bitcoin City” at the base of a volcano and adopt cryptocurrency as legal tender. While supporters have hailed the president’s ambitions, not all Salvadorans “Feel the Bit”. Is Bukele’s big idea as mad as it sounds? Andrew Mueller speaks to Carmen Valeria Escobar, Danielle Mackey and professor Cathy Mulligan.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 min
November 24, 2021 Nordic Council of Ministers series, part nine: Preparedness
People in the Nordics often joke about global warming bringing better weather to a region not overly blessed with sun and warmth but, of course, climate change is already having a negative impact – and it’s probably going to get worse. In this episode of the Foreign Desk Explainer, in association with the Nordic Council of Ministers, we hear from experts in the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Sweden about how the wide-ranging challenges are likely to affect populations there, and how they are preparing for the worst.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 min

About The Foreign Desk

From the publisher's feed

Presented by Andrew Mueller, Monocle’s flagship global-affairs show features expert guests and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Nominated for ‘Best Current Affairs’ show and the…