Global Elections in 2024: What We Learned in a Year of Political Disruption

2024 was a remarkable year for elections as voters in more than 60 countries went to the polls. It also turned out to be a difficult year for incumbents and traditional political parties. Rattled by rising prices, divided over cultural issues and angry at the political status quo, voters in many countries sent a message of frustration.

In this essay, we analyze four major themes that emerged from this year’s busy slate of elections around the world:

• A tough year for incumbents
• The staying power of right-wing populism
• Polarized battles over tradition and change
• International conflicts with political implications