Voters in 2024 ousted incumbents worldwide, signaling discontent with traditional leadership, according to a report by Richard Wike, Moira Fagan, and Laura Clancy. In the U.S., Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, while Republicans reclaimed Congress. The UK saw Labour end 14 years of Conservative rule, and South Africa’s ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since apartheid.
Right-wing populism surged globally. Europe’s far-right parties gained ground, and Germany’s AfD won a historic state election. Leaders like Argentina’s Javier Milei and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele thrived on hardline platforms. Cultural divides on issues like immigration and national identity deepened polarization.
International conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, influenced voter sentiment, reflecting a year of economic strain and ideological divides.
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