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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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Even today, the belief in which humanity would be divided into races, and that some of them would be inferior, is at the origin of numerous tensions and discriminations. From the Slave Trade to Apartheid via scientific theories from the 18th century, “Mapping the World” wonders about the persistence of racism and attacks common beliefs about this cultural and political construction.
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Measured against the criteria of the 21st century, the railway offers numerous advantages: it is a means of transport that is networked worldwide and enables ever higher speeds. Transportation or travel by rail is far more environmentally friendly than by plane, car or truck. China is now relying on railways on a large scale, particularly with the "New Silk Road" initiative. "With open cards" tells the old story of the global railroad, which has a great future ahead of it. [arte]
A look back at the great epidemics and pandemics of human history and how they spread through the world. The propagation of the Black Death in medieval Europe, the Spanish Flu in the 20th century or indeed Covid-19 today, all indicate how human populations are linked via trade, travel and geography.
Humans have been exploiting the world’s forests for centuries. Today the most important industries causing deforestation are timber, palm oil extraction, soya farming and raising cattle. But we are also realising the importance of forests to the planet and to mankind.
Since the end of the Second World War we cannot seem to live without plastic: Invading every industry worldwide and creating an island of plastic waste in the oceans one third the size of the USA. Can we free ourselves from our addiction to plastic? [arte]
How are Muslim communities distributed across the globe in 2020? How did Islam come into being and how did it spread? A glance at the world map shows where the individual Islamic denominations are to be found. "With open cards" explains the basics and takes a look at terms that repeatedly cause heated debates. [arte]
The Caspian Sea is surrounded by the five riparian states Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Russia and their complex network of interests. Oil and natural gas deposits as well as rich caviar stocks arouse desires. "With open cards" sheds light on the geostrategic significance of the world's largest inland waterway, which is subject to major overexploitation. [arte]
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.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin rule two influential states bordering the Black Sea and regularly dominate the headlines. Since the annexation of the Crimea and the construction of the "Turkish Stream" gas pipeline, they have been in the limelight more than ever. Despite the currently tense relations between their countries, both statesmen are pursuing a common goal: to keep the Western powers away from the Black Sea region. Why is this region strategically so important? [arte]
Since Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the construction of a new Silk Road in 2013, the world has feared the growing Chinese influence on the global economy. What is the project really about? How far has it progressed? And what does China gain from it? Transportation, infrastructure, credit and cultural investment - China is now present on all continents. Will Xi Jinping win his gigantic monopoly? [arte]
In August 2019 Donald Trump announced that he was in talks with Denmark to buy Greenland. His dubious offer was rejected, but reminded the world of the strategic importance of the Emerald Isle. The melting of the ice is changing the course of the Arctic waterways, and Greenland, rich in raw materials, is increasingly attracting the interest of the major powers. [arte]
On October 3, "Mit offenen Karten" celebrates its 100th edition. The anniversary program looks at Xi Jinping's China from the inside: The Middle Kingdom and its world power aspirations are constantly on everyone's lips, but do people really know what is going on within its borders? The magazine focuses on this huge country full of contrasts. [arte]
Coffee is still the most important product of Ethiopia's economy, but it has now also gained a foothold in many other countries around the world. "With open cards" tells the story of the long journey of this drink, which is one of the most consumed drinks of all, and also focuses on the environmental pollution associated with its production. [arte]
In February 2020 Italy was the first European country to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic. In so many areas Italy seems to act as a seismograph for the rest of Europe being the first to experience to experience the earthquakes of fascism, populism and the migration crisis of recent years.
Africa is the least electrified continent in the world. Some believe that Africa can move straight to mobile networks and renewable energies but for now the unequal access to power across the continent remain striking.
An overview of the history of Portugal. Great trading nation and colonial power of yore, Portugal became one of the West’s poorest nations in the 20th century before undergoing a renaissance in recent years.
The 5G revolution will truly bring the internet of things within everyone’s reach and make smart cities a global reality. But with this major technological advance led by Chinese company Huawei, it is leading to renewed tensions between the USA and China.
Namibia suffered under colonialism twice: first with the Germans, who perpetrated genocide and forced labour against local populations, and then South Africa, which imposed apartheid. What scars has this painful history left behind?
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.
Ten years of conflict in Syria have led to 500,000 deaths and 22 million displaced people. Mapping the World focuses on the grim domino effect that led the country from civil war to sectarian war, to intractable international conflict.
2022
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.
Since 2021, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping are rivals on the world stage with China now positioning itself to take the lead in all areas - economic, military, diplomatic, cultural and political. An overview of the Sino-American competition to be world leader, which could be decisive for the 21st century.
World Cup in Qatar 2022: Of flourishing business with the TV rights, corruption scandals and the stage for human rights activists [arte].
We look at Argentina to understand why this country with multiple resources did not live up to its promise. The missed opportunities are numerous: over-investment in agriculture, a singular political model, inequality, and corruption.
Places of learning, universities also have another role: to affirm the status of their countries and guarantee their cultural influence. Since the advent of global league tables, the struggle between universities vying for prestige has only intensified; especially between East and West.
Understanding geopolitics has never been more urgent. Mapping the World analyses Putin's unprecedented attack on Ukraine with a short history of relations between Russia and Ukraine. Political scientist Anna Colin Lebedev and the head of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), Thomas Gomart provide context.
"Hard power" means economic, military, and demographic power; "soft power" means symbolic, cultural, and informational power. And now there is also "food power": the weaponised production of food. Wheat, one of the most consumed grains and traded on the stock exchange, has become a geopolitical issue.
With France holding the European presidency and with presidential elections on the horizon, a focus on the French nation. An assessment of its economic, cultural and military influence in the world today.
Ten years after Gaddafi's fall, what state is Libya in? There's the official government based in Tripoli that is recognised by the international community, and rival forces controlled by General Khalifa Haftar.
At the crossroads between China and India is Indonesia, an archipelago bursting with potential. The biggest Muslim country in the world became a democracy after years of dictatorship. It successfully curbed threats from Islamic extremists and enjoys the most dynamic economy in the region. Indonesia could well become a major player in international politics.
Thirty years after the end of apartheid, the results are sobering: South Africa has not succeeded in conquering its demons. Violence is the order of the day, economic imbalance, racial injustice and state-tolerated corruption still characterize everyday life. Yet South Africa is by no means lacking in potential! [arte]
"With Cards Open" takes the viewer on a journey into the world of fishing, which is characterized by increasing globalization and industrialization. It's about ship factories and aqua farming. And the threat to biodiversity in the oceans. [arte]
Are civil rights and liberties coming under pressure in the 21st century? The program explores the global balance of power between democrats and autocrats, or the democratic Western model and Sino-Russian authoritarianism. Democratic, geopolitical and digital challenges will be crucial in tomorrow's world. [arte]
Ever since former U.S. President Barack Obama oriented U.S. foreign policy toward Asia under the slogan "Pivot to Asia," the Sino-American rivalry has also come to bear in the Pacific region. Two great powers clash in the areas of trade, military and diplomacy. [arte]
Until now, international nuclear weapons doctrine has been based on the principle of nuclear deterrence and non-use of these weapons. "With Cards Open" traces the history of the nuclear showdown. To what extent have nuclear weapons determined the balance of power between states since they were first used in 1945? Is Vladimir Putin about to change the rules of the game? [arte]
Since February 2022, the war in Ukraine has led numerous countries to end their dependence on Russian gas and oil supplies - an economic and geopolitical realignment whose domino effects are just beginning to emerge. "With Cards Open" provides a historical-geographical overview of these energy sources that are on trial today. [arte]
Against the backdrop of the Ukraine war, Central Asia is more than ever a geostrategic epicenter. Since the end of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan have long since found their way back to their identity and historical roots. What are the differences and similarities between these Central Asian countries little known to the West? [arte]
"With Open Cards" takes us through the country of Salvador Allende and dictator Augusto Pinochet, where a newly elected left-wing government is currently promising to take action against the social imbalance. Its rich copper and lithium mines are both a blessing and a curse for Chile. Although they bring prosperity to the country, they also have a negative impact on the environment and the people. [arte]
Those who speak of the Balkans often think of the wars that have ravaged the peninsula between the Adriatic and the Black Sea - but its inhabitants want to come to terms with the past and are searching for new horizons. "With Cards Open" takes viewers to the mountainous southeast of Europe, over which the shadow of Serbian nationalism still lies. [arte]
"With Open Cards " takes you through the increasingly militarized China Sea, where Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan are trying to assert themselves against their Chinese neighbor. The law of the sea is being reinterpreted by China's President Xi Jinping as he sees fit. What are the consequences? [arte]
Although the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has faded into the background since the wars in Syria and Iraq, it was at the center of geopolitics for many years. In 1949, the Palestinian territories were separated from the state of Israel by the so-called "Green Line": this marked the beginning of the flight of 750,000 Palestinians ... [arte]
In February 2022, Vladimir Putin justified his invasion of Ukraine by the threat to his security posed by the accession of certain border countries to NATO. Since the color revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine, the Kremlin's obsession with not losing its influence in the former Soviet space has taken an additional step with the Ukrainian conflict. [arte]
The strike movements that have shaken the United Kingdom since August have led some analysts to speak of a "summer of discontent. At the same time, the architect of the Brexit, Boris Johnson, has stepped down as Prime Minister. So why are the British in the streets? Is the war in Ukraine enough to explain the rise in food and energy prices? [arte]
The threat of a nuclear accident as a result of Russian attacks during the war against Ukraine brings back traumatic memories of the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters. Added to this is the European energy crisis. Against this background, "With Cards Open" examines the global situation of civilian nuclear power use. [arte]
On October 16, 2022, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will begin. Will President Xi Jingping be confirmed in office for the third time? On the eve of the Congress opening, Emily Aubry welcomes sinologist Alice Ekmann, who illustrates current Chinese strategy. [arte]
The island of Iceland, located in the North Atlantic, fascinates with unique landscapes: It counts 130 active volcanoes and one tenth of its surface is covered with glaciers. A journey of discovery in the only country in the world that generates 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, and is also a pioneer in terms of gender equality. [arte]
In recent years, great advances have been made in LGBT rights in some countries: many European countries have legislated for same-sex marriages. However, in some parts of the world LGBT communities still face discrimination or persecution. A focus on LGBT+ rights around the world.
Are there some countries "greener" than others ?
"With Cards Open" travels to the land of the pyramids, examines the ruling elite of Egypt today and asks: is there an Egyptian model? Most notably, Abdel Fattah as-Sissi, who couped his way to power in 2013, has plunged into a series of ambitious infrastructure projects ... [arte]
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The Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, exposed a major flaw in Israeli intelligence services, considered among the best in the world. In a world where warfare is becoming hybrid, the challenges for intelligence services are immense, and their ability to inform, influence, and manipulate is a primary factor in power.
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By mid-century, the number of cities exposed to temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius for three consecutive months will have tripled. 1.6 billion city dwellers are said to be threatened by these extreme weather events. Excess mortality, respiratory illnesses, and worsening inequalities in cities worldwide. Faced with this emergency, cities are mobilizing and innovating.
Serbia is a key Balkan country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, led by President Aleksandar Vučić. An official candidate for EU membership, Serbia has not applied sanctions against Moscow and has a good relationship with Beijing. Where does its future lie?
Drones are reshaping modern warfare in conflicts around the world. The technology is cost-effective, can be piloted safely, and can cause devastation. Armies must adapt to this new threat as airspace becomes increasingly militarised.
For four years, Russia has struck at Ukraine's vital infrastructure with the aim of demoralising the population. More than 9.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes and find refuge in other regions or abroad. But the Ukrainians have shown great resilience in the face of Russian aggression.
Denmark is widely regarded as an economic, social, and environmental model. Generating more than half of its electricity from wind power, the country has already completed roughly 75 percent of its journey toward climate neutrality. Occupying a strategic position at the interface of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Denmark has become a key strategic power. Yet this status also exposes it to new vulnerabilities: beyond the challenges posed by climate change, it must now confront external pressures, including Donald Trump’s predatory ambitions toward Greenland and growing intimidation from Russia.
Sought after for their magnetic and luminescent properties, essential for renewable energy and displays, rare earths have become highly strategic resources. China holds nearly half of the world's reserves, followed by Brazil, India, Australia, Russia, Vietnam, the United States, and Myanmar.
Soy is a key commodity in the global economy. Primarily used as animal feed, the bean is also processed into biodiesel. Trade connects ports in the USA with China and shapes new economic routes. Brazil, the USA, and Argentina dominate the market, but monocultures cause massive environmental damage. Dubbed the "green oil of the 21st century," its trade is reshaping the world map, linking ports in the Americas to terminals in China.
In February 2026, the justices of the US Supreme Court ruled: a president cannot unilaterally impose tariffs. This challenged one of Donald Trump's favorite weapons: increasing import taxes. It provides an opportunity to review the economy according to Trump, particularly in Minneapolis, whose local economy is affected by the climate of fear surrounding ICE.
Understanding geopolitics and the world: The connections of globalization explained simply with maps. This issue examines the consequences of China's one-child policy and the demographic trend toward aging societies on almost every continent.
Understanding geopolitics and the world: Globalization's interconnectedness explained simply using maps. This episode explores the relationship between the EU and India against the backdrop of the new geopolitical landscape.
A moment that will never be forgotten: On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, she met Paddington Bear – at a classic tea time in Buckingham Palace. But as much as tea is considered a British cultural treasure, its origins lie far away: in China. "With Open Cards" embarks on a global quest to explore the history and uses of tea.
Texas, a historical stronghold of American conservatives, is considered a "laboratory of Trumpism." Once a land of immigration, it is now one of the spearheads of Donald Trump's anti-immigrant policies. Fueled by oil and AI, Texas attracts influential companies, starting with those of Elon Musk, a powerful ally of the American president.
Mapping the World takes us to the African Great Lakes, a region of the continent long plagued with conflict and unrest. More than thirty years after the Rwandan genocide, conflict still affects the DRC, and neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
Understanding geopolitics and the world: The connections of globalization explained simply with maps. In this issue of "With Open Maps," Brazil's strengths and weaknesses are examined in light of the presidential elections in October 2026.
2025
Direction the Bering Strait, the closest point of contact between Russia and the United States. It separates Chukotka, a Russian autonomous district of Alaska, by 85 km. Since 1945, the Bering Strait has been the barometer of relations between the two great powers. A look back at this region of the Arctic, where the major issues of our century are at stake.
Some call it the "Sea of Japan", others the "East Sea". This strategic maritime space, bordered by Russia, Japan and the two Koreas, is much more than a simple crossing point: it is at the center of rivalries between world and regional powers. Two camps face each other: on one side the axis Pyongyang, Moscow, Beijing, on the other Tokyo, Seoul and the United States...
"The Underside of the Cards" takes you on a cruise on a river at the heart of the news since the Russian invasion of Ukraine: the Dnieper. From the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to the Kakhovka Dam, Europe's longest river is both a front line and a strategic node in the war between Ukraine and Russia.
On the southern border of the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula covers more than 60,000 km2. A "gray zone" at the gates of the Hamas-Israel war, with trafficking of all kinds, armed jihadist groups, tunnel networks and a local conflict between the Egyptian army and the Islamists.
Rising water levels are one of the consequences of climate change which will change the map of the world. Different countries are trying to adapt to it with very varied strategies. "The Underside of the Maps" offers you a world tour of the most vulnerable coastlines and solutions designed to best preserve humanity.
In the heart of Rome, this 44-hectare enclave is home not only to the spiritual center of the Catholic Church, but also to a leading diplomatic player on the international scene. Despite its tiny size, the Vatican has established itself as a key player in world affairs. A small state, but a giant of diplomacy and Catholic "soft power".
The war in Ukraine has intensified military and economic cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Arms deliveries from Pyongyang, transfer of Russian technologies and presence of North Korean soldiers on the Donbass front: an alliance that destabilizes Europe and Northeast Asia. A look back at a relationship born after the Second World War.
Annexation and colonization of Xinjiang, repression in Tibet, Korean War, conflict with India: the wars led by China were multiple. Today, with a "peace power" narrative, Xi Jinping's China claims not to wage war but to defend world peace, and to remain neutral in the conflicts of other countries.
How did the United Arab Emirates become the key geopolitical player in a Middle East in full reorganization? An exceptional edition of "Dessous des Cartes", lasting 35 minutes, filmed in Abu Dhabi.
The smartphone is an issue of sovereignty, security and technological control between the American and Chinese giants. At the center of this battle: semiconductors, essential components of all electronic objects. However, this market is dominated by Taiwan, an ally of Washington and a target of Beijing. The smartphone is at the heart of the major dividing lines of the 21st century.
The overseas territories, from Reunion to the Antilles, via Guyana and Mayotte, represent a major geopolitical asset for France. But economic, social and demographic fragilities accentuate local tensions and inequalities with France. Return to diverse and complex territories with multiple challenges.
In 2025, Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes the reins of a Germany under pressure. As the far right advances and the migration issue divides the population, it must remilitarize the country and manage a failing economy. How can we maintain Germany's stability and confront the challenges that are redefining the country's role in a changing Europe?
Poland is becoming a key player in the European Union. Thanks to its strategic geographical position, its impressive economic growth, its key role in the defense of the continent against Russia and the voluntarism of its Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Challenges remain, including its declining demographics and internal political tensions.
Russia has been at war since its large-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago. Military strategy, geopolitical influence, information battle: Vladimir Putin is using all means to defeat Ukraine. How does its economy react to international sanctions and the constraints of war?
A maritime area rich in natural resources, the Gulf of Guinea extends over more than 2 million km2 from Liberia to Angola. A nerve center of the oil and gas trade in Africa, its assets attract the desire of foreign powers, and provoke increasingly frequent acts of piracy.
In recent years, the French army has no longer been welcome in several African countries. From Mali to Niger, from Burkina Faso to the Central African Republic, French troops are now asked to leave. What place can France still hope to hold on this strategic continent? And what future for the links forged over the decades?
"The Underside of the Cards" looks at a drama that is playing out silently before our eyes: the extinction of countless species of animals. Entire swaths of wildlife are disappearing at an unprecedented rate on every continent. What are the major sources of disappearance? What does the global map of threatened species reveal? And what else can we save?
China, the world's second largest economy, is currently going through turbulence: real estate in crisis, consumption at half mast, aging population, rising youth unemployment. All against a backdrop of heightened rivalry with Donald Trump's United States, which is relaunching the trade war.
Space, once the scene of the Cold War between the United States and the USSR, is today becoming the terrain of a new confrontation, where competition is still taking place between the great powers, but also between billionaire entrepreneurs.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the shadow of a new Russian imperialism has hung over the countries of Eastern Europe. Poland, Norway, Finland and the Baltic states all fear Putin's expansionism. These countries with different historical trajectories and strategic realities have a common challenge and are organizing themselves to resist a threat perceived as existential.
Europe is forced to rethink its security and strategic autonomy under the pressure of Vladimir Putin's wars and Donald Trump's return to the White House. A historic challenge to which European allies united within the European Union and/or NATO must respond by coordinating their efforts. Will Europe be able to ensure its own security?
This week, "The Underside of the Cards" takes you to Syria, a country which is going through a pivotal moment in its history after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. After more than fifty years of dictatorship, it was Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist, who took the reins of a devastated state. A new chapter is opening, but peace remains fragile in this country with multiple fractures.
Azerbaijan, a strategic country in the Caucasus, is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Rich in its hydrocarbons and its geographical positioning, it has established itself as an important regional player by developing partnerships with Turkey, Russia, Israel and the EU. It is also an authoritarian regime dominated by the Aliyev dynasty for more than thirty years.
Sudan has been plunged for more than two years into a deadly war too often forgotten, triggered by the rivalry between two generals, Al-Burhan and Hemetti. After decades of dictatorship and a painful split with South Sudan, the country is experiencing a new tragedy, marked by abuses against civilians and a massive displacement of populations.
Certain bodies, led by the EU, are trying to organize regulations to limit the risks linked to the various uses of AI. Chip wars, patent races, competition to attract elite talent and engineers, data control via gigantic data centers with serious ecological implications. This battle for global leadership in artificial intelligence is being fought on several fronts.
Five years after Brexit came into force, the United Kingdom and the European Union have never really cut ties. Despite the efforts of Brexiters to promote “Global Britain” around the Commonwealth, Brussels, Paris and Berlin remain essential across the Channel. Between trade agreements and diplomatic partnerships, the link between the island and the continent remains.
The great Moroccan ambition is to become a center of modernity, a bridge between Europe and Africa and a key player on the African continent. Between colossal infrastructure projects and hosting the 2030 World Cup, Mohammed VI's Morocco wants to establish itself as a leading economic and diplomatic power.
Faced with the Russian threat which is becoming clearer on its border, in the Arctic, the Barents Sea and around the Svalbard archipelago, the Norwegian government has launched a massive rearmament: a future tripling of its personnel within the NATO, investments in naval defense, strengthening of its northern garrisons.
Led by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), Saudi Arabia is a key player in the Middle East. The kingdom is trying to shed its conservative image by diversifying its economy. At the heart of this project: the "Saudi Vision 2030" plan and its pharaonic projects such as that of the futuristic city Neom or the tourist area of Al-Ula.
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Morocco is a beacon of stability in an unstable region. However, the kingdom still faces problems of serious social inequality, a lack of democratic freedoms, and the ongoing unresolved status of Western Sahara.
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Located in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus is a unique island divided into two states. As a result, Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, is also crossed by a boundary wall. To the south, the Republic of Cyprus, of Greek culture, has its seat at the UN and is a member of the European Union. To the north, the Republic of Northern Cyprus, of Turkish culture, is recognized only by Ankara. Cyprus has always been torn between different influences – Byzantine, Ottoman, Venetian, British, Greek – before gaining independence. Since 1974, its northern part has been occupied by Turkey and a "green line", under UN control, separates the island in two. Turkish-Greek relations, exclusive economic zones in the Eastern Mediterranean, underwater gas prospecting, etc.: the Cypriot imbroglio is responsible for many disputes in the region.
The two poles have in common the cold and huge expanses of ice, but they are very different: while the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents, the Antarctic is a continent surrounded by oceans. These two spaces are coveted by certain great powers to take advantage of their resources: new maritime routes, hydrocarbons, water reserves, etc. Russia, the United States, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, etc.: many states are located in the Arctic Circle and compete with each other on strategic, energy and commercial levels. At the same time, Antarctica has the status of an international territory dedicated to scientific research: any military installation or exploitation of resources is prohibited there.
It is the most populous country in Africa and the one with the largest GDP. Nigeria is a leader on the continent in more ways than one. Lagos, the country's main city, is a real commercial and financial powerhouse. Nigeria is also the beating heart of Africa on the cultural level, from Afrobeat to cinema, with Nollywood. An important diplomatic and military power in the region, Nigeria could become the third most populous country on the planet by 2050, just behind India and China. But before establishing itself on the international scene, the country still has many challenges to overcome: glaring inequalities, inter-ethnic rivalries, endemic corruption, jihadist violence, etc.
Rugby, kiwi, Maori culture, majestic mountains: many images come to mind when we think of New Zealand, but what do we really know about it? For example, did you know that it was the first country in history to grant women the right to vote? Or that there are five sheep for every inhabitant? Let's discover this curious country at the end of the world. New Zealand, a country at the antipodes of the Earth but with strongly European accents. Colonized by the British from the beginning of the 19th century, the archipelago only broke away from the tutelage of London in 1907. And even today, the country is a member of the Commonwealth and has Charles III as its sovereign. But New Zealand is also the Maori culture inherited from Pacific populations from Polynesia. On the geopolitical level, New Zealand tells the story of a pendulum movement between the West and Asia, and tries to take advantage of its position apart from the world.
A state with exceptional natural diversity, California is also among the most vulnerable, with its increasing number of megafires, seismic risk and chronic water shortages. Finally, California is also a land of inequality, where the constant rise in the cost of living pushes the poorest populations further and further away. Let's get out our cards.
With its location in the heart of the Black Sea and its quasi-Mediterranean climate, Crimea has always attracted covetousness. Greeks, Byzantines, Genoese, Mongols, Tatars and Russians have successively taken an interest in it. Since the 18th century, to its great misfortune, the peninsula has been tossed between Ukraine and Russia, at the whim of wars and changes of regime... It was there, in Crimea, that the Russian invasion of Ukraine really began in 2014, at the time of the illegal annexation of the peninsula by Vladimir Putin. Crimea, a strategic region because it allows control of the Sea of Azov and offers an opening onto the Black Sea. But now also a highly symbolic territory, for Russians as well as Ukrainians: proof of the power regained for Moscow; symbol of the violation of its territorial sovereignty for kyiv from 2014, before the even more massive invasion of Russia in 2022.
Malaysia is a country with a particular geography since it is cut in two: on one side the Malay peninsula, on the other the island of Borneo which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei. But Malaysia is distinguished above all by its control of the famous Strait of Malacca, at the crossroads of the Indian and Pacific Oceans; at the heart of international trade. A mandatory crossing point between China and India, Malaysia has been the object of much covetousness throughout its history: Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch, British and Chinese have all sought to make a place for themselves there. Having become independent in 1957, Malaysia experienced strong growth from the 1990s until becoming a key player in the region.
"Mapping the World" introduces you to Mongolia, a mysterious country wedged between two giants, China and Russia. When we talk about Mongolia, we immediately think of its immense steppes, its nomadic horsemen, its yurts and its yaks; but Mongolia is also a country with rich subsoils, a rapidly expanding capital (Ulan Bator) and a living democracy. How did Mongolia, a country of barely three million inhabitants totally landlocked between two of the most implacable dictatorships on the planet, manage to establish a genuine democratic regime? Between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, Ulaanbaatar has managed to chart its course and has even developed relations with other democracies in the world: the "third neighbor strategy".
After the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Indian Ocean is the third largest maritime area on the planet. Surrounded by Africa to the west, Asia to the north and Oceania to the east, it brings together twenty-five states and 2.7 billion inhabitants, or a third of the world's population. New Delhi seems to want to reclaim this heritage by turning to the sea. A highly strategic area whose importance has only grown in recent years. India is not a historical maritime power and its successive empires have primarily been continental, yet it is India that gave its name to the ocean that extends south of its coasts. However, from 1757 to 1947 it was dominated by the United Kingdom, a maritime power par excellence.
With maps and reports to support this, a special issue of ARTE's magazine is dedicated to the Strait of Gibraltar, a key point of contact between the two shores of the Mediterranean. "At this precise point, only 14 kilometres separate the two continents." Aboard a Spanish sea rescue service launch, partly funded by the European Union, Émilie Aubry navigates the Strait of Gibraltar. This maritime corridor subject to strong winds connects the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, Africa to Europe. Although the number of illegal crossings has decreased since the peak in 2018, when 25,000 people had to be rescued, the coastguards still save a thousand would-be exiles each year, and always fear arriving too late... A geostrategic crossroads, the strait is a tangle of borders. On the Moroccan coast, Spain has two enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, while on the other bank Great Britain owns the territory surrounding the Rock of Gibraltar.
Informing and being informed, two fundamental rights that are unfortunately far from being respected everywhere on the planet. "Mapping the World" is teaming up with "Reporters Without Borders" (RWB) for a program on the state of press freedom in the world. Vietnam, China and North Korea are the three countries that offer the worst conditions for working as a journalist according to RWB. Today, in the world, more than five hundred journalists are behind bars, twenty-seven have been killed since the start of the war in Ukraine, more than ninety in the context of the Hamas-Israel war: all alarming indicators for a profession that must also face the explosion of disinformation.
Founded in 1954 in the form of the ECSC, the European Union has continued to expand, particularly towards the east since 2004. With the war in Ukraine, the EU's centre of gravity seems to have shifted towards Eastern Europe. Poland, Hungary, Slovakia: attention is focused on these countries on whose borders the Russo-Ukrainian war is being played out. It is also in the East that the most critical voices regarding the European project are raised. Hungarian Viktor Orban, leader of the Eurosceptics and close to Vladimir Putin, is a key player in the EU, notably opposing military aid to Kiev. In December 2023, his abstention allowed Ukraine and Moldova to open accession negotiations with the EU. Two new members that would tilt Europe even further towards the East.
A highly strategic location of globalization, the Persian Gulf is a region that concentrates most of the planet's proven hydrocarbon reserves. At the mouth of this small, almost closed sea, the Strait of Hormuz forms one of the most sensitive points of international trade. The Persian Gulf (or Gulf of Arabia) separates two antagonistic linguistic, cultural, strategic and religious areas. Iran on one side, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula on the other, first and foremost Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia. An unstable area in terms of security, therefore, but not only that: the Persian Gulf region is also very vulnerable in environmental terms.
For over forty years, Lebanon seems to be the sounding board for all the conflicts in the Middle East: the Palestine Liberation Organization guerrillas, the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the Syrian civil war, the Israel-Hamas war. The cause is notably its political system which favors community logic and often foreign interference. Lebanon, this small, rugged country that has long been called the "Switzerland of the Middle East," has changed a lot over the decades and wars. Its political life is now dominated by Hezbollah, a Shiite religious organization in thrall to Iran and at almost constant war with Israel. A true state within a state that has become a key player in regional geopolitics.
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games raise major sporting, symbolic, economic and ecological issues. This major Olympic event should also be an opportunity for states to continue their geopolitical confrontations on other fronts. The 1936 Olympic Games in Hitler's Berlin, the boycott of the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, in the midst of the Cold War: there is no shortage of examples of Olympics that have become geopolitical platforms. This year, attention will be focused on Ukraine and especially on Russia, whose athletes will be banned from competing under their national banner. Enough to push Vladimir Putin to organize his own games, the "Friendship Games".
In a world where climate change is accelerating, wind and solar power seem more than ever to be the energies of the future. This week, "Le dessous des cartes" lets you discover how these resources, used for thousands of years, are being brought back into fashion in the 21st century. From India to Denmark, via China and the United States, large-scale renewable energy projects are multiplying. As a result, the share of wind and solar in the global electricity mix has exploded in recent years. All the more so since the costs of wind turbines and other solar panels have fallen considerably, in particular because China has invested massively in this industry, managing to slash prices and sell its components to the entire world. Enough to make renewable energy an ecological issue first, and a geopolitical issue second, for better or for worse.
This week, "The Underside of the Maps" takes you to discover Armenia, this small mountainous country which has suffered, since its independence in 1991, from a very complex geographical situation, between its Azerbaijani rival and its Turkish sponsor. The case of Nagorno-Karabakh is particularly thorny and took an even more dramatic turn in September 2023, with the forced exile by Azerbaijan of the Armenians who lived there, against a backdrop of Russian disengagement and, beyond that, a certain laissez-faire of the West, which trades with Baku for its hydrocarbons. The history of Armenia is that of an ancestral country that has constantly had to resist great empires and of a people who suffered terrible massacres in the 19th century and then with the first genocide of the modern era, in the 20th century.
From the Phoenicians to the United States, via the Song dynasty, the United Provinces and the United Kingdom, maritime power has often been at the heart of the geopolitical strategies of states. Today, it is China whose ambitions seem to be focused on the sea, with a stated objective: to catch up with and surpass the American superpower. Mastery of the seas, now essential to be a great power, depends on many factors. Knowing how to navigate, having anchor points on the different oceans, controlling submarine cables, having a war fleet, having a naval industry and fishing boats: all this is necessary to be a maritime power in 2024.
In 2022, global sales of illegal drugs are estimated at $250 billion. Given the low prices for raw materials from poor countries, drug traffickers and their middlemen make huge profits from the sale of processed drugs - cannabis products, cocaine, heroin, opioids and amphetamines. "Mapping the World" traces the global routes of drug trafficking and shows the full extent of the destructive power of the drug economy: from small farmers in Morocco, Afghanistan and Colombia to transit countries such as Mexico and Albania to the countries where the drugs are sold and are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of consumers every year.
