Monocle’s bumper December/January double issue surveys the world’s most influential nations, from the European country with visa-free travel to 190 states to the Asian outpost with a crooning president. Elsewhere, we reveal the history of French animated storytelling with a comic of our own and plot a course for a fruitful festive shopping spree in a city near you.

Published out of London, Monocle was launched as a magazine briefing on global affairs, business, culture, design and much more in 2007.