Author: Harshada Abhyankar

In 2024, 64 nations are holding elections, potentially impacting global order amidst ongoing challenges like wars, poverty, and climate change. Taiwan elected Mr. Lai Ching-te, reinforcing its democratic identity. Bangladesh re-elected Mrs. Hasina Sheikh. The outcomes of upcoming elections in countries including the USA, India, and England are eagerly anticipated.

As we are two months in 2024, the year has already seen major developments geopolitically around the globe. The year brings about 64 nations to go for respective elections. This jamboree of democracy may cause ramifications on global order. The world continues to brace about two wars – Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, hunger, poverty, refugee crisis, climate change etc. To tackle these challenges, to bring about novel perspectives and align the global order; elections in these 64 nations may turn out to be game changing.

Taiwan already has elected its new leadership with Mr.Lai Ching-te. With his win, Taiwan has showcased its deep rooted belief in democracy. This win and the elections were being watched by Beijing as well as Washington. As China pushes for one China policy, the USA tries hard to uphold Taiwan as an democratic identity.

Along with Taiwan , Bangladesh recently elected Mrs. Hasina Sheikh as its leader and conferred fourth term of leadership on her. The elections in Bangladesh prove of pivotal importance for India as a neighbour.

The USA is set to go for elections along with India, England, South Africa,Indonesia, Mexico, African nations like Chad, Senegal, Rwanda and the European union. This brings about more than the world’s half population cast votes and voice their choices.

As the world looks for peace and prosperity, it is crucial for emerging leadership to be a harbinger of change, hope and solutions. The cyclical nature of problems needs profound and nuanced efforts for solution framing.

The elections in India will be the largest celebration of democracy. These are looked upon by each nation state as India travels through its Amrit kal. The elections in Russia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Korea, Bangladesh makes it crucial for India to play a role of stabilizer in the south and emerge as a voice of Global south. With wars and geopolitical turmoil, India is walking a tight rope to seek balance over its policy of multi- alignment . To affirm its stand, the new emerging leaderships are to be watched for. The multi alignment calls for like minded individuals, policies and policy belief to drive the geopolitics. Hence, the results of the elections will be decisive.

As I read about blasts and firing in Pakistan during the casting of votes, the voice of the democracy should emerge the loudest. In the 21st century, it’s climacteric how we stand for democracy and the rights of the people? The elections imply prevalence of democracy, but greater appetite for its fairness will emphasize the true nature of democracy.

Keep looking for election results and how impacts manifold through demographics, geographies and time.