Much has been said about 2024 as an election year, with the European Union and 64 countries planning to hold elections. But with over half of the world's population poised to head to the polls, now is the time to find out exactly what is on the ballot beyond the names and propositions. Voting is a time when voice can be expressed in democracies, but is also a time that puts wider issues, as well as perceptions of the electoral process by citizens, under intense scrutiny.
“Who is Voting in 2024?” is a podcast series hosted by AHCD researchers Laura Bullon-Cassis and Yanina Welp. This podcast is not just about who we are voting for – it's about the act of voting itself, and how it serves, increasingly, as just one expression of many expressions of our collective “voice” in democracy. Drawing on the rich expertise of its researchers, the podcast will offer a nuanced analysis of electoral experiences but focus on a specific country-related topic (e.g. youth protests, land redistribution, and or constitutional claims), serving as a recurring platform for insightful reflections, analyses, and collaborative exchanges in the lead up to the elections themselves.
Each episode, released before key electoral dates, will expose examples of democracy in action by exploring how core themes and debates affect the country’s elections exposing how democracy extends much beyond the ballot box and is intertwined with issues such as trust and legitimacy, extremist discourses and ideologies. Some of the countries on focus are Panama, India, South Africa, Iceland, México, the European Union elections, Uruguay and the United States of America.
“Who is Voting in 2024?” takes an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, offering listeners deep dives into the stakes of upcoming elections in a style reminiscent of Albert Hirschman's interdisciplinary insights on voice and democracy.