2024 Elections

By Andrew Moon '27

In 2024, the world is witnessing a “year of elections”. Over four billion voters across more than sixty countries can exercise their voting rights. A common theme across the elections this year–whether in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Britain, France, or the United States–is the deepening political polarization. Political polarization often leads to pointless disputes that fail to deliver meaningful solutions, raising a crucial question for us in the broader context: “Are today’s political leaders focused on what truly matters?” The fundamental purpose of politics is to serve the people. Whether on the left or right of the political spectrum, political leaders and parties should not forget this purpose and prioritize the needs of the people over political strife. 
One significant election held earlier this year is the presidential election in Taiwan–officially known as the Republic of China–where DPP candidate Lei Ching-te’s victory marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time DPP has remained in power for more than ten years across three consecutive terms. Unlike the KMT, which has generally maintained a friendly stance toward China, the DPP has actively advocated for Taiwan’s independence. Lei’s victory underscores the heightened tensions between Taiwan and China, particularly in light of Xi Jinping’s hardline approach. However, what is more interesting is the rise of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), led by Ko Wen-je, which has gained a lot of attention and support in the election, about twenty-six percent of the votes. Many voters in their twenties and thirties chose Ko and TPP, who focused on people’s livelihoods and societal reforms unlike the other two parties that focused on the relationship with the CPP. Taiwan’s youth unemployment rate is currently around eleven percent, with inflation at a high of three percent. As a result, many Taiwanese people prioritized economic concerns over China-Taiwan relation issues in this election. 
Unlike Taiwan, many other countries experienced regime changes or ruling party defeat.  East Asia, Korea and Japan serve as key examples. A common characteristic is the clear manifestation of political polarization, overshadowing urgent domestic issues. South Korea’s 2024 election reflects the country’s deep political divides with the defeat of the ruling People’s party, despite facing significant challenges to its citizens’ livelihoods. Widely known for the lowest fertility rate in the world, which is 0.7. Additionally, South Korea is currently experiencing domestic issues, including high housing costs, medical disturbances, inflation, and an economic downturn. These problems directly affect the daily lives of Koreans, yet the election was dominated by polarized political discourse.
Similarly, Japan’s 2024 general election also reflected widespread voter dissatisfaction as the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost its majority in the House of Representatives due to a finance scandal, rising inflation, the burdens of family life, echoing Japan’s lost decades of economic stagnation and declining growth. This outcome suggests a critical moment for Japanese politics, characterized by a departure from the complacency of previous years, as voters expressed their desire for change amid growing political polarization.
In the UK, the Conservative Party (Tory Party)’s fourteen-year-long regime ended with a landslide victory for the Labour Party in the 2024 general election. Following Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s aggressive push for Brexit in 2019, Britain eventually left the European Union (EU). This departure was driven by promises of increased sovereignty and economic independence but led to political and economic repercussions, including trade disruptions and social division that continues to challenge the nation today. To make matters worse, the UK economy–already struggling with the COVID-induced recession, inflation, and rising unemployment–faced further turmoil when Tory Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a major tax cut policy in 2022, which backfired. Truss resigned after just forty five days and was known as the country’s shortest-serving prime minister. Frustrated by the worsening economy, the British people turned to the Labour Party for the first time in fourteen years, bringing about a significant change in government. What stands out in this general election is the unexpectedly strong performance of the far-right party, Reform UK, which captured fourteen percent of the total vote, indicating growing support for more extreme political positions. Their success reflects deep dissatisfaction amongst a significant portion of the electorate, who are frustrated with mainstream parties. 
Just like Britain, the rise of far-right parties is a growing concern across Europe. The 2024 French general election mirrors the political polarization of the pre-World War II 1936 election, where the Popular Front and the National Front faced off amid societal divisions. This year, it was a three-way contest between the far-right National Rally, the left-leaning Popular Front, and the ruling coalition, Ensemble. Initially expected to win, the National Rally surprisingly fell to third place in the final round., narrowly preventing the far-right from taking power. 
The defeat of the ruling parties reflects the demands of a public increasingly frustrated with the current economic situation. Voters have clearly voiced their dissatisfaction, yet parties continue to focus on meaningless disputes. These endless ideological battles show no signs of resolution, nor do they demonstrate any willingness to solve problems affecting people’s livelihoods as political leaders prioritize their own agendas over the well-being of their citizens. 
Moreover, a common characteristic among countries where far-right parties are gaining power—like France, Germany, and Austria—is the issue of immigration. Increasing numbers of immigrants and refugees have fueled public anxiety over cultural integration, economic competition, and national identity. The growing influence of far-right parties highlights a fundamental shift away from addressing the needs of citizens. As leaders become increasingly preoccupied with ideological battles and political polarization, the core mission of politics—prioritizing the needs of the people—often gets sidelined. Instead of deepening divisions over issues like immigration and national identity, they should focus on meaningful solutions that improve the lives of their constituents, such as addressing economic disparities, ensuring access to healthcare, and fostering social cohesion, rather than allowing political strife to overshadow the real concerns of the people they serve. Only by returning to this fundamental purpose can political leaders hope to restore trust and build a more inclusive and stable society.
Our nation endured a presidential election on November 5th, and, like the countries mentioned above, our nation is divided with serious political polarization. The outcome of this election has significant implications for the direction of our nation. Trump’s presidency now faces the challenge of uniting a deeply divided American people. By focusing on what truly matters—addressing the everyday concerns of citizens—the U.S. government can strive to rebuild trust and foster a more cohesive society. As Abraham Lincoln once said, our government is “of the people, by the people” and most importantly, “for the people.”