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Mapping the World

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Then complex world of geopolitics broken down into ten minute, bite-sized chunks. You'll never sound uninformed at the dinner table ever again.

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The Geopolitics Programme

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The history of Europe since the end of the Second World War cannot be properly understood without taking into account immigration. Within countries, between European countries as well as from outside Europe, immigration has always been a hot topic.

A History of Immigration in Europe

From the North Sea to the Black Sea, the Rhine and the Danube form a link across Europe. Mapping the World navigates the history of the two longest rivers of the European Union.

Rhine and Danube: Two Rivers, Two Europes

Iraq in 2022: Will the emerging nation succeed in resisting foreign influence and from Iran in particular? What does the future hold for the Kurdish autonomous region? And will the USA ever really leave?

Iraq in 2022: Will the emerging nation succeed in resisting influence from foreign powers, and from Iran in particular? 

Iraq - A Sovereign Country?

Compared to neighboring Mali, Senegal appears to be quiet and stable. France, a former colonial power, maintains its place as its main partner, but others are now vying for a spot at the table: China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Indonesia and the United States.

France, a former colonial power, is Senegal's main partner, but others are now vying for a spot at the table

Senegal and France: Allies?

The ruling junta renamed Burma Myanmar, claiming it was a way of erasing the country's British colonial past. But the deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi still defends the name Burma. This episode of Mapping the World looks at this ethically diverse country influenced by both India and China.

This episode of Mapping the World looks at this ethically diverse country influenced by both India and China

Myanmar: The Junta and the Democratic Dream

The two main cocoa-producing countries - Ivory Coast and Ghana - aren't reaping the rewards of a growing global taste for sweet treats. On the one hand there are multinational corporations that control the entire value chain, on the other, small cocoa producers trying to support their families.

The main cocoa-producing countries - Ivory Coast and Ghana - aren't reaping the rewards of growing global demand

Cacao: Who Profits from Chocolate?

A region of Europe with a shared experience of communism and USSR dominance, Eastern Europe today is characterised by nations with diverse cultural and political identities.

How many Eastern Europes?

How we represent our world in maps depends on our perspective. For many centuries Europeans have put their continent in the centre and on top of their maps, the Chinese likewise placed the Middle Kingdom in the centre of things. What do our maps tell us about our worldview?

For centuries Europeans have put their continent in the centre of their maps, the Chinese likewise placed the Middle Kingdom in the centre of things. What do our maps tell us about our worldview?

Cartography: How We Represent the World

Warfare has evolved with the professionalisation of armies, the refusal of public opinion to see their soldiers sacrifice their lives in distant lands, and the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and other drones.

Warfare has evolved into high tech drone strikes and robo-armies, and it's a gamechanger for global geopolitics

21st Century Warfare

All world powers want a piece of Antartica, the only continent that belongs to everyone and no one. This unique territory at the end of the world is currently protected by international law, with only scientific research allowed. But for how long will it remain a pristine wilderness?

All world powers want a piece of Antartica, the only continent that belongs to everyone and no one.

Antarctica: Ice and Greed

Amongst the millions of species of insect on the planet, the bee plays a crucial role in human civilisation. A focus on how bees have spread around the world with globalisation and how they are now critically endangered.

Bees and Agriculture

A focus on the world’s largest country by landmass. Russia is a major world power that excels in certain spheres but glaring inequality, major structural problems and Western sanctions mean it may struggle to keep up with other world powers.

Russia: Land of Contrasts

The world's tech giants - the likes of Facebook, Apple or Google - now have a political role to play. They can curb misinformation or spread it, along with all of the massive social issues that entails. An in-depth analysis of social media uses and regulations in China, the United States, and Europe.

An in-depth analysis of social media uses and regulations in China, the United States, Europe and Russia.

The Geopolitics of Social Media

Germany in the 21st century is unthinkable without Angela Merkel, leading the country for the last 16 years. Ms Merkel grew up in the GDR before beginning her political career in the united Germany. A look at the Germany she leads as she approaches the end of her political career.

A look at the Germany of Angela Merket as she approaches the end of her political career after 16 years as chancellor.

Germany: Angela Merkeland?

The fall of the USSR destabalised the Caucasus, which is being eyed up by three autocratic regimes: Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Each country jealously guards its interests in this oil and gas-rich region. 

The fall of the USSR destabalised the Caucasus, which is being eyed up by three autocratic regimes: Russia, Turkey, and Iran

The Caucasus: At the Crossroads of Europe and Asia

20 years ago, on September 11, 2001, 3,000 people died when al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes. Mapping the World looks back on the 20-year struggle against Islamic terrorism, from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda to the so-called Islamic State, Boko Haram, and other jihadist organisations.

Mapping the World looks back on the 20-year struggle against Islamic terrorism

20 Years of War against Terrorism

The historian Herodotus in the fifth century BC said that Egypt was "a gift from the Nile", and from the pharaohs to Nasser, the Nile has played a vital role in Egypt's fortunes. But Ethiopia now intends to remind leaders in Cairo that the Nile is not just an Egyptian river.

Ethiopia wants to remind Egypt that the Nile is not just Egyptian

Geopolitics of the Nile

In 2016, Colombia the country signed a historic peace treaty with the FARC rebels. This was intended to mend the deep rift in Colombian society, which has long been divided into two extreme camps: on the one hand the Marxist revolutionary guerrilla, on the other the ultra-conservative right and paramilitary militias. But the violence that has shaped the recent history of the country is far from over.

Colombia is still struggling to control violence from extreme groups and drug cartels

Colombia: A Nation in Revolt

There are an estimated 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth and in the 20th century, 437 of them erupted in places like the United States, Russia, Indonesia and Japan. Both a blessing and a curse, they have shaped our world on land and at the sea.

A World of Volcanoes

Climate change is often viewed as a far-off phenomenon but the effects are already being felt around the world by millions of people. A global overview of the regions on the frontline of the climate catastrophe.

 A global overview of the regions on the frontline of the climate catastrophe.

Climate Change Is Happening Now

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Border closings were among the first measures taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The consequences were immediate for airports and airlines. Today, most of the world's planes are grounded. Airlines have seen their passangers drop by 95 percent.

Most planes are grounded as passenger numbers crashed overnight in the wake of border closures and safety fears

The Geopolitics of COVID-19: Aviation

In February, COVID-19 broke out in Iran and very quickly became unmangeable. A month and a half later, casualities in the Middle East remain relatively low, but Saudi Arabia is suffering from the drop in oil prices and the loss of revenue from the hajj.

Saudi Arabia is facing the double whammy of a drop in oil prices and the possible cancellation of the hajj

The Geopolitics of COVID-19: the Persian Gulf

Since February the coronavirus has spread to all corners of Europe and most nations have imposed lockdowns on their populations. A focus on Sweden which has not imposed restrictions.

Sweden and European Coronabonds

Geopolitics of Covid-19

Less than 200km from the Chinese mainland, the 'rebellious', democratic island of Taiwan has far fewer COVID-19 cases, with only a handful of deaths. How have they managed it? And does the CPP's handling of the outbreak change Beijing's claim over the island?

Less than 200km from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan only has a handful of COVID-19 deaths. How have they managed it?

The Geopolitics of COVID-19: China and Taiwan

Brazil’s far-right president Bolsonaro has not ordered a widespread shutdown of the population, dismissing the threat of Covid-19. How will the coronavirus pandemic unfold a highly unequal country?

Brazil: Bolsonaro's 'Little Flu"

Geopolitics of COVID-19

The coronavirus reminds us how we are all linked as part of the global village, with the crisis telling us much about world geopolitics. How is the epidemic playing out in isolated North Korea as compared to its wealthy southern neighbour?

North Korea

Our flagship geopolitics programme is working from home like many of us. A special episode focusing on the Koreas. How is the epidemic playing out in North Korea? 

Covid 19: A Lesson in Geopolitics

A special series of Mapping the World focusing on the geopolitics of the coronavirus pandemic.