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It’s been a remarkable two weeks in global politics. The U.K. elections saw the end of 14 years of Conservative rule and the near devastation of the party. While British voters have turned against a right-leaning government and chosen a centrist party, in other parts of the world the right is on the rise. And it seems incumbents everywhere are in danger.
There’s growing pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down to allow a new leader to take over the Liberals and avoid what, if the current polls are an accurate indication, would be a Conservative victory in next year’s federal election. France also turned right in its recent legislative elections.
And then there are neighbours to the south. It’s been another very good week for Donald Trump: the U.S. Supreme Court has made recent rulings that will likely reduce the number of criminal charges he faces and it’s almost certain none of his trials will go ahead before the presidential election in November. Meanwhile, Joe Biden has been in full damage control since his disastrous showing in the first presidential debate. Even more than Trudeau, the U.S. president is facing calls to step aside so Democrats can put forward a younger candidate to face Trump.
These are all very complicated and important political stories. For your weekend reading, I’ve assembled a collection of stories from the global network of The Conversation to give you some context and perspective on the state of politics here and around the world.
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Weekend Reads: Political upheavals
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Ben Wellings, Monash University
With exit polls predicting a landslide win, new PM Keir Stamer’s dull but steady approach seems to have paid off, and the disastrous Conservative rule comes to an end.
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Mark Bennister, University of Lincoln; Ben Worthy, Birkbeck, University of London
Starmer is known as a quiet, methodical lawyer – but this is a messy world.
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Mark Garnett, Lancaster University
Electoral defeat comes for us all in the end.
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Stephen Barber, University of East London
The Conservative party has been voted out of office in a Labour landslide.
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Claire B. Wofford, College of Charleston
The Supreme Court’s decision has major implications for the criminal prosecution of Trump and for the country and how it is governed.
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Riley T. Keenan, University of Richmond
Government prosecutors, ruled the Supreme Court, stretched the meaning of a law that’s been used to prosecute those alleged to have participated in the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol.
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Thomas Klassen, York University, Canada
It’s a unique moment in North America: the prime minister of Canada and the president of the United States are being asked to step aside for the betterment of their parties and their countries.
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Stewart Prest, University of British Columbia
In democracies around the world, voters aged 18-34 are abandoning the incumbent in favour of opposition parties, often choosing populist-style politicians. Why? Blame the broken social contract.
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Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Anna Turns, The Conversation
Marine ecologist Isabel Key explains what she’s finding as she listens to the sounds of underwater seagrass meadows. Listen on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
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Vinita Srivastava, The Conversation; Dannielle Piper, The Conversation; Ateqah Khaki, The Conversation; Jennifer Moroz, The Conversation
In this bonus episode, you’ll meet some of the producers who help make this podcast to revisit some of our favourite episodes from past seasons.
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