The year 2024 was a pivotal one for global democracy, with billions voting across over 80 countries in what was described as a “make-or-break” period for the concept. From India to Venezuela and Senegal to the US, the resilience of democratic institutions was put to the test, with mixed results.
While warning signs were flashing even before the year began, with challenges to election results and opposition boycotts on the rise, analysis of voter turnout data showed a surprising uptick on average. However, the very foundations of successful democracies – free speech, equal participation, and media plurality – faced unprecedented threats, leading some to forecast the further erosion of democratic norms.
Yet, there were also inspiring examples of citizens and opposition groups successfully pushing back against authoritarian tendencies. In Senegal, a grassroots movement forced the incumbent president to step down, while in Bangladesh, student-led protests ultimately led to the resignation of the long-serving prime minister.
The US election, sitting at the end of the global democratic marathon, proved to be a particularly contentious affair. The intervention of billionaire figures like Elon Musk, who poured significant resources into supporting Donald Trump’s campaign, highlighted the growing influence of plutocratic forces on the electoral process. However, the peaceful transfer of power after Trump’s victory, with Kamala Harris graciously conceding, served as a powerful reminder of the resilience of democratic norms.
Globally, the representation of women in positions of political power remained disappointingly low, with the current rate suggesting it will take over a century to achieve gender parity. Yet, the election of Claudia Sheinbaum as Mexico’s president provided a glimmer of hope.
Ultimately, the lessons of 2024 may not lie in the politicians who emerged victorious, but in those who accepted defeat with grace and integrity. As UK’s former chancellor Jeremy Hunt noted, “This is the magic of democracy” – a sentiment that echoed across the world, even as the system faced unprecedented challenges.
