The Foreign Desk

By MonocleSociety & Culture News Education Government News Commentary Politics History

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The Foreign Desk episodes

September 15, 2021 Nicaragua: How to write yourself into exile
Once a good friend and political ally of Nicaragua’s president Daniel Ortega, novelist Sergio Ramírez finds himself an enemy of the state. Andrew Mueller explains how this plot developed.
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6 min
September 11, 2021 Did we win the war on terrorism?
As the US commemorates the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Taliban are back in power in Afghanistan. How has the threat of terrorism changed in the two decades since the beginning of the War on Terror? Andrew Mueller speaks to Nathan Sales, David Kilcullen and Farah Pandith.
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31 min
September 08, 2021 Guinea: back under military rule
Guinea is no stranger to military coups but it had been hoped that the appointment of the country’s first elected leader, President Condé, would mark a new era of democracy. A little more than a decade, and a constitutional amendment, later Condé was ousted. Andrew Mueller explains what we know so far.
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7 min
September 04, 2021 A New Dawn for Zambia?
It was a case of sixth time lucky for Hakainde Hichilema, who has become Zambia’s new president after five unsuccessful attempts. He inherits a troubled economy but his victory has raised hopes for change. How has he triumphed at last? And what effect might he have on aspiring leaders across Africa? Andrew Mueller speaks to Bizeck J Phiri, Michael Kaluba and Steph Chungu.
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28 min
September 01, 2021 Are Israel and Palestine really working things out?
Israel’s defence minister and deputy prime minister, Benny Gantz, paid a visit to the West Bank, marking Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas’s first official meeting with a senior Israeli politician in more than a decade. Andrew Mueller explains how this appears to be more than it really is.
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7 min
August 28, 2021 Afghanistan’s growing diaspora
US president Joe Biden has vowed to plough ahead with the evacuation of those trying to flee Afghanistan, despite Thursday’s deadly bombing by Islamic State. As tens of thousands move to escape Taliban rule, Afghanistan’s diaspora is about to grow larger. What is the journey out of Kabul like? Will the US welcome this wave of new arrivals with compassion? And what lessons can we learn from previous generations of Afghan refugees? Andrew Mueller speaks to Fatimah Hossaini, Ryan Williams, and Nelufar Hedayat.
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30 min
August 25, 2021 Duterte to stay?
The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has accepted an endorsement from his PDP party to run for vice-president at next year’s elections. Andrew Mueller explains why many see it as a way to cling to power beyond the six-year limit set out by the country’s constitution.
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7 min
August 21, 2021 Afghanistan: what went wrong?
Twenty years of American-led intervention in Afghanistan ended in chaos last weekend after the Taliban retook Kabul in the face of minimal resistance. Why did Afghanistan’s expensively trained army melt away so quickly? Where does this leave Afghan civilians? And will this Taliban rule be any different from the previous regime of the 1990s? Andrew Mueller speaks to a woman in Afghanistan as well as Fazelminallah Qazizai, David Kilcullen, Jackie Northam and Haroun Rahimi.
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35 min
August 18, 2021 Explainer 279: Poland and Israel – refusing reparations
Diplomatic ties between Poland and Israel are severing swiftly. It after the passing of a law in Poland that prevents the descendants of Holocaust survivors from claiming homes stolen from their families by Nazis and communists during, and since, the Second World War. Andrew Mueller explains why this is not a new point of contention between the two nations and why it has finally come to a head now.
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7 min
August 14, 2021 Tunisia: what went wrong?
Ten years ago, Tunisia was praised as the only democracy to blossom from the Arab Spring. It managed to cast out a long-time dictator and establish political pluralism. But now the future of the country’s democracy is in limbo following president Kais Saied’s dismissal of parliament. How long will this last? Why do so many Tunisians support the president’s power grab? And is there a way out of this crisis? Andrew Mueller speaks to Layli Foroudi, Safwan Masri and Saida Ounissi.
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31 min

About The Foreign Desk

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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…