Ten questions that 2024 might answer: Part 1
Exam scripts, train travel, critical theory, democracy and the four-day workweek
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1. Will democracy survive?
The world will come out to vote in 2024. India, Britain, Mexico, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and, of course, the United States will all have presidential elections, to name just a few. Africa, too, will visit the ballot box, from Senegal, Tunisia and Ghana to southern Africa, where Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius and South Africa will all vote for new presidents. More people will vote in 2024 than in any previous year.
And yet, democracy is under threat. Across the globe, voters will grapple with challenges such as misinformation, political polarisation and the increasing influence of money in politics. Such factors contribute to a growing disillusionment among citizens, who may feel that their votes have less impact on the decisions that affect their lives. The real challenge for democracies in 2024 will be to reengage the electorate, ensure the integrity of the electoral process, and demonstrate that democratic governance can effectively address the difficult issues of our time.
These difficult issues are not only local but global, with serious repercussions. The spectre of global war looms, with tensions escalating among major powers. Climate change poses an existential threat, disproportionately impacting the poorest nations, which often struggle with democratic governance. This crisis requires a coordinated global response, yet anti-globalisation sentiments are on the rise, fueling nationalism and isolationism.
How the world votes in 2024 will profoundly influence whether we move towards a more collaborative future or further into division and conflict.
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