Investigation and Geopolitics

A selection of investigative documentaries and reportage on the world we live in and the challenges our societies face.

Across Europe, the far right is embedding itself into the political landscape and daily life. But behind an increasingly smooth and respectable façade lies an ideology that remains fundamentally racist and violent. An in-depth focus into an ecosystem of extreme ideology in France, Germany, and Belgium.

Inside Europe's Far-Right Movement

Across Europe, the far right is embedding itself into politics and daily life, but remains fundamentally violent and racist. 

White Power

Chinese men are suffering. There are simply not enough women to go around since China implemented its one-child policy in 1979.  This means that 1 in 5 Chinese men will not be able to find a partner in five years’ time.

ARTE Reportage

Chinese men are suffering. There are simply not enough women to go around since China implemented its one-child policy in 1979. 

China: Men without Women

Ireland has a severe shortage of homes with hundreds of thousands needing to be built. With rents in Dublin spiralling, many families are homeless. Jordyn, Jonathan and their daughter Delilah have no fixed address and have to look for somewhere to spend the night every day.

Since the financial crisis, Ireland has had a severe housing crisis with many families left homeless.

Re: Ireland's Housing Crisis

The number of migrants crossing the border from Mexico into the USA has increased over the last few years. The USA’s southern frontier and how to welcome (or not) migrants into the states is a major issue at this year’s presidential elections. ARTE visited both sides of the border to find out more about this burning issue.

USA: Trump's Wall

In spite of Trump’s wall, thousands of migrants are continuing to cross the border from Mexico into the United States.

Nickel, gold, iron, zinc, uranium... Beneath the pastures of Southern Greenland lies a host of natural resources. With global warming making them more easily accessible will Greenland choose to mine them? Or alternatively take advantage of a milder climate to develop the agricultural sector?

Greenland: Agriculture or Mining?

A crucial dilemma for Greenland: Mine their rich natural resources or concentrate on agriculture?

Change is afoot in the Scottish Highlands. In an effort to fight climate change, some wealthy landowners want to rewild their huge estates. They are convinced that the Highlands will then be able to absorb more carbon.

In an effort to fight climate change, some wealthy landowners in the highlands want to rewild their huge estates, 

Re: Rewilding the Scottish Highlands

A year after Javier Milei was elected president, Argentina is facing an existential crisis. The populist president is shaking the foundations of the country by revisiting the national narrative of the military dictatorship that terrorised Argentina from 1976 to 1983.

Argentina: Guardians of Truth

The children of torturers of the former military dictatorship are now showing solidarity with the victims of their parents.

Thanks to analysis of videos on Telegram, social media posts, and articles and statements from Russian authorities, this episode of Sources tracks how Ukrainian children were forcibly taken from their parents or orphanages. Taken to Russia under the guise of keeping them safe from the conflict, these children were supposed to be temporarily relocated. But instead they are indoctrinated, given foster families, and even offered for adoption. This action has led to charges against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights, by the International Criminal Court.

The Stolen Children of Ukraine

Nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children are thought to have been abducted and taken to Russia.

Data Sources

More than 80% of the salmon consumed in Europe comes from fish farms. Salmon farming is a speciality of northern countries, with Norway being the main producer. These farms are promoted as a sustainable alternative to wild-caught salmon, but in reality, they are fed with fishmeal and fish oil that require tonnes of other fish species to be caught, depleting the ocean's fish stocks. This overfishing occurs far away from Europe, in Mauritania.

The Dark Underbelly of European Salmon

Fish stocks in Mauritania are being plundered to feed farmed salmon.

Between 2020 and 2022, during the fighting between Tigray and the armies of Ethiopia and Eritrea, their soldiers used sexual violence as a weapon of war: It is estimated that at least 120,000 women were raped, who are now campaigning for justice.

Tigray: Rape as a Weapon

Two women are fighting to help victims of rape during the Tigray war and make their voices heard.

In the Tenderloin neighbourhood of San Francisco, thousands of homeless drug addicts are in thrall to Fentanyl, an opioid painkiller 50 times more potent than heroin. With 700 drug-related deaths every year, the Californian city is in a drug death spiral with dead bodies regularly found on the street.

USA: San Francisco Ravaged by Fentanyl

With 700 drug-related deaths every year, the Californian city has a huge problem with Fentanyl and other drugs.

All videos

Faced with a grim future of climate catastrophe, French environmental activist and director Cyril Dion goes to meet people who are taking radical steps to save our future.