Why 2024 Is the Most Important Year for Democracy Worldwide: 5 Key Points

Elections 2024: The year 2024 will end 7 months from now. This year is considered very important for democracy around the world. This will be the first time since the 18th century when 49 percent of the world’s population will elect their government together.

The countries where elections are proposed this year include the world’s oldest democracy America and the largest democracy India.

Apart from these two countries, there are 62 other countries where people will vote this time to elect their government. Interestingly, this time elections are also proposed in those countries which are in the grip of internal or external conflict.

In most of the countries of the world where elections are being held or are going to be held in 2024, democracy is the biggest issue and in the elections here the opposition parties are seeking votes on the basis of democracy only.

Why 2024 is the most important year democratically, 5 points

1. 49 percent of the world’s population will elect the government

Nearly half of the world’s population will elect its government this year. According to Time Magazine, general elections are to be held this time in 64 countries including the European Union. 49 percent of the world’s population lives here, which will directly or indirectly elect the government. 

After 20 years, such an opportunity has come when elections will be held in America and India to elect governments in the same year.

Lok Sabha elections are proposed this year in India, the world’s largest country in terms of population. Similarly, America is the third largest country in the world in terms of population. Presidential elections are proposed here too in 2024. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh are also counted among the top 10 countries of the world in terms of population. General elections were held here too this year. Russia has also done the job of choosing the supreme leader. The population of Russia is about 15 crores. Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area. 

2. Elections will be held in troubled countries this time too

Ukraine and Iran are battling war this time. Ukraine has been fighting a war with the world’s most powerful Russia for the last 3 years, while Iran is in conflict with Israel. General elections are proposed in both these countries in 2024.

Elections will be held for the post of President in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky is currently the President here. Similarly, in Iran too, voters will vote to elect the government.

General elections are proposed this year in some African countries including Sri Lanka and South Sudan which are facing internal conflicts. 

Elections were held in conflict-torn Bangladesh and Pakistan at the beginning of the year. However, there is still a deadlock over the elections here and opposition parties are demanding fresh voting.

Due to unrest in these countries, Europe, Africa and the Middle East are greatly affected.

3. Elections in countries whose freedom score is zero

Elections are to be held in 2024 in countries whose freedom score is zero. According to Time Magazine, Mali, Syrian Arab Republic and Chad have a freedom and fairness score of zero. This score reflects the democratic system of the country.

This means that the democratic conditions in these countries are very bad. Interestingly, elections will be held this time in all these three countries to elect the government.

Mali has a population of 23 million and elections will be held here for the post of President. Similarly, the population of Syrian Arabs is also around 25 million. Elections will be held here for the People’s Assembly. 

Chad has a population of 18 million and presidential elections will be held here.

4. The direction and condition of the world will be decided after the elections

Among the countries where elections will be held in 2024 to elect the government, there are many countries that decide the direction and condition of the world. For example, a change of government in the US can affect the strategic policies of Russia-Ukraine and China.

Donald Trump has already promised that if he becomes the President of America, he will end the war. 

Similarly, there has been a stalemate in Sri Lanka for a long time. If the government changes here, peace can be established. The policy regarding the economy can also change here.

The war is still affecting many countries of the European Union. This is going to be a big issue in the elections here too. This may have an impact on the strategy of the European Union after the elections. 

The situation in the United Kingdom is similar to that of the European Union. Here Rishi Sunak is currently in the fray. However, he may face tough competition from the Labour Party. If the Labour Party comes to power, Britain’s stance on many issues including Gaza and Israel may change.

5. The ordeal of big faces, including Biden and Modi

This time the ordeal of many big faces of the world. These include US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In the 2020 US presidential election, Democratic candidate Biden defeated Republican Donald Trump. Trump is the presidential candidate this time too. However, the leaders of the Democratic Party are trying to portray Trump as a dictator. 

Trump is accused of not wanting to leave the post of President even after losing in 2020.

The 2024 elections are also considered to be a litmus test for  India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi . To win the 2024 battle, Modi’s party has formed an alliance with 40 parties.

Opposition parties in India allege that if Modi and his party come to power again, the Constitution will be abolished so that elections can never be held in India again.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is also facing a litmus test. Presidential elections are to be held in war-torn Ukraine. Zelensky is accused of deliberately pushing the country into war with the help of America.