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The Foreign Desk

The Foreign Desk

By: Monocle
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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 ‘Spotlight Award’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards.

2025 Monocle Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Could Taiwan draw the US, China and Japan into war?

    Could Taiwan draw the US, China and Japan into war?
    Dec 13 2025

    Japan prime minister Sanae Takaichi’s assertion that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a threat to her nation’s survival has spurred a crisis between Tokyo and Beijing. Can de-escalation be achieved?



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    29 mins
  • Explainer 497: The art of (stopping) the coup

    Explainer 497: The art of (stopping) the coup
    Dec 10 2025

    Benin has become the latest West African state to face a coup. Andrew Mueller explains how the region’s history of upheavals gave president Patrice Talon the tools to stop the attempt.

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    7 mins
  • One year on from the toppling of the Assad regime, how far has Syria’s revolution come?

    One year on from the toppling of the Assad regime, how far has Syria’s revolution come?
    Dec 6 2025

    One year on from the spectacular toppling of the Assad regime, has the Syrian revolution achieved its aims? How well is President al-Sharaa governing and remaking his image? Will global intervention help or hurt the state?

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    34 mins
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