In 2024, at least 64 countries held national elections, sending half of the global population to the ballot box in what was one of the greatest successes and tests of democracy in recent history. This initiative aims to highlight the diverse ways democracy has manifested around the world.
In Senegal, democratic freedoms were challenged by a leader who sought to extend his rule and silence his political opponents. In South Africa, a party that has ruled for decades realized the price of complacency. In authoritarian nations like Iran and Venezuela, a lack of integrity and trust in electoral processes threatens to undermine fundamental civic freedoms and human rights. Even in the UK, where democratic electoral processes have existed for hundreds of years, these elections were an important opportunity for citizens to express their opinions in a system that has seen three of the last five prime ministers lead without winning a general election.
The HPR’s World Section, in collaboration with this series of writers, hopes this initiative will shed light on the unique political processes underpinning elections across nations and their evolution in the coming years.
Senior World Editor
