Democracy

WHAT'S NEXT?: Society is expressing its discontent with current democratic processes that leave the elites struggling to convince their voters of their good intentions and competencies. Read on to see how democracy is offering both great opportunities and risks while this period of volatility shakes out.

• [New] Backlogs in the US Citizenship and Immigration Services have prevented many American citizenship applications and could block many people from voting in 2020's presidential election.
• [New] Strong market conditions for tech companies could change given the still unfolding scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty over the approval of vaccines, and the outcome of the U.S. election in November.
• [New] As the 2020 presidential election nears, the U.S. populace is as divided as it has been in a long time - and the tempestuous climate could lead to a surge in activity among hacktivists seeking to make a statement.
• If targeted sanctions appear a step too far, a Democratic president could use the Commerce Department's Entity List - which Trump has used to limit U.S. exports to Huawei and other Chinese companies - to prohibit U.S. exports to foreign companies that egregiously contribute to global climate change.
• Scepticism of US intentions extends across the Iranian political spectrum, and a Biden administration would have limited time to deal with Rouhani's government before the next Iranian presidential election, slated for mid-2021.
• The growing possibility of Donald Trump losing November's US Presidential Election is alarming Brexiters, concerned about what negotiating a US-UK trade deal with an administration led by Joe Biden will mean.
• Millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail November 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, increasing the chances the winner of the presidential race will not immediately be known on election night.
• With the Trump administration's cordial and strengthening relations with Taipei, any move by Beijing against the self-governing island will depend on who is in the White House after the US presidential election in November.
• By fueling talk of an imminent agreement, Iran is signaling Europe and a potential Biden administration after the US November presidential election, American and European policies might drive the Islamic Republic into Beijing's arms.
• China has boosted its efforts to influence the US presidential election in November and wants President Donald Trump to lose because it sees him as unpredictable.
• Russia, China and Iran will all try to interfere in the 2020 US presidential election, noting in particular that Russia is attempting to primarily denigrate presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
• Warmer American relations with democratic Taiwan are largely a result of strong bipartisan support in Congress, but also appear to show how the Trump administration is willing to defy Beijing's threats and promote an alternative to Chinese Communist Party authoritarianism.
• In 2030, over half of the continent's population will be concentrated in seven countries: Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa.
• Milan-listed banks were the hardest hit on worries the year-old Italian coalition government might collapse after sparring between the two main political parties and that a new election could take place too late for a new administration to approve a 2020 budget.
• Russia, China and Iran will all try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, with Russia already trying to undercut Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
• Political advertising is expected to have a large impact on growth over the next couple of years, contributing to a +2.6% growth rate in 2019 and +8.2% growth rate in 2020 as political spending swells in a presidential election year.
• Tesla stated that its goal is to eliminate the reputational risks associated with sourcing minerals from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo where corruption is rampant, and Glencore assures buyers that its mechanized mine will not handle any manual work.
• The 2020 U.S. presidential election will be the first time all members of the millennial generation will be able to vote: The age group of what will then be persons in the 18 to 45-year-old area will represent 40% of the United States' eligible voters in 2020.
• With delays from Covid-19 taken into consideration, Mauritian hydropower provider Tembo Power CEO Raphael Khalifa expects construction on three hydropower projects and one solar photovoltaic project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to have started by July next year.
• In the Democratic Republic of Congo, harvesting of main season maize crop is complete in central and Katanga regions, and below-average yields are expected due to impacts from persistent heavy rains, FAW infestations, and ongoing conflict and other socio-economic factors.
• Vote by mail will become the default option for the vast majority of American voters this year.
• China, Russia and Iran are expanding [their] influence efforts in the US ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
• In Hong Kong, many are worried that if the Democratic Party wins the presidential election, the United States will change its China policy and stop supporting Hong Kong.

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Last updated: 13 September 2020