10 General FAQs

1. Why should I care about foreign affairs?

Our world is globalising at historically unprecedented levels, and foreign affairs are the invisible architecture that holds our world together. A country’s social cohesion relies on collaboration with other countries, global companies, and global actors, which help its systems run at any given time. As we integrate across borders culturally and economically through technological systems, understanding foreign affairs has become essential for navigating daily life with genuine autonomy.

2. What is a micro-article?

Feature articles in a standard publication are usually 1,500-2000 words. Our micro articles rarely exceed 1,100 words. Our purpose in this format is to communicate complex issues in a concise form fit for use in anyone’s mental toolkit. This format, ideally, makes our articles more approachable and even encourages readers who might not have otherwise taken the step.

3. Who writes the articles?

Our articles are written by our founder, Sabina Boon Clews. Trained in International Relations, Sabina breaks down complex issues with a unique order of flow - characteristic of her writing style.

Starting in January 2026, we will expand Parlé to include guest contributors. If you feel like you might be a fit or feel like you have something to say, submit your application through our form in the website footer.

4. Are foreign affairs hard to learn about?

Foreign affairs is an easily approachable subject, particularly once you are equipped with a basic toolkit, including the vocabulary used, the structures that influence countries' decisions, and definitions of international norms. Much like knowing how to do phone banking is critical for your personal finances. Most of us don’t know how to run a major bank, but day to day, knowing how to equip ourselves with the right funding grants us autonomy.

5. How does Parlé make my life easier?

Given the growing number of global factors influencing our lives, understanding foreign affairs has become increasingly valuable. Particularly as companies, trades, employment, and other critical social pillars that were once local continue to integrate with the global environment and become international in nature. Parlé identifies the features that construct this system, separates them per article, and showcases them within a current issue. Parlé’s bi-weekly editions equip you with the invaluable - a genuine understanding of the world around you and the powers that influence your life. Plus, knowing the nuances behind every headline is the ultimate confidence booster.

6. Where should I start?

Starting with explanatory articles such as “Siri, what’s the global world order?”, “Elevator politics” and “Peas in a pod!” will introduce larger themes that influence all foreign affairs. Our next few projects will also be great introductory mediums that will become your toolkit as you approach any discussion on foreign affairs. For first announcements, sign up to our “Curated Discourse” newsletter.

7. What are foreign affairs?

Foreign affairs are activities related to other countries. What were once limited have now evolved into an ever-more important range of matters. These matters are interlaced with influences from online discourse, public opinion, national conditions, global companies, ally behaviour, economic influence, the behaviour of other states, to name a few—all of which impact not only each other but also our own individual lives. As we grow more interconnected as a society every day, foreign affairs increasingly influence our day-to-day activities.

8. Where can I learn more?

Over the next few months, we will be launching new projects that expand on our articles. These projects will help us engage more deeply with the subject matter we delve into in our articles, across both written and video formats. To be the first to know when we will be releasing something, sign up for our Curated Discourse newsletter.

9. Are your articles written by AI?

AI writes none of our articles. Parlé’s voice relies on authenticity, and by extension, the human touch. The intricate construction of words helps us make sense of the world. Doing so with AI, something innately un-human - an inanimate object, that hasn't been through the trials of the human experience, would be a waste of everyone’s time.

10. Do you work with contributors?

While most of our articles are written by our founder, Sabina, we will begin accepting contributors in January 2026. If you feel like you might be a good fit or have something to say, reach out through our contributor application in our website footer.