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The Intelligence from The Economist

The Intelligence: 2024 is a big year for democracy

Jan 1, 2024
Ed Carr, Deputy Editor at The Economist, shares insightful perspectives on a monumental year for global democracy with over 70 countries heading to the polls. The conversation highlights the upcoming presidential election in Mexico, focusing on candidates Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez, and examines President López Obrador's lasting impact. Additionally, the discussion touches on the global electoral landscape, emphasizing challenges related to fairness and democratic integrity amidst rising autocratic trends. Ambient music is also explored as a productivity booster, showcasing its therapeutic effects.
23:38

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Only 43 out of 71 countries holding elections in 2024 are expected to have truly fair elections, highlighting the ongoing challenges and limitations of democratic processes worldwide.
  • Major elections in 2024, including the United States presidential election, South Africa's elections, and European parliamentary elections, have the potential to bring about significant political transformations.

Deep dives

Global Elections in 2024: A Closer Look

2023 saw surprising election results in Argentina, the Netherlands, and Poland. However, 2024 is set to be even bigger with approximately 4 billion people in 76 countries having the chance to vote. Despite the widespread access to elections, not all of them are considered fair or free. The Economist Intelligence Unit estimates that only 43 out of 71 countries going to the polls will have truly fair elections. This highlights the lingering challenges and limitations of democratic processes worldwide.

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