The end of 2024 saw unprecedented and seismic shifts in global affairs. Beth Clifford explores what these events could mean for 2025
On 3 December, impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol declared martial law, which was quickly overturned by the National Assembly. Sending the nation into a frenzy, protests erupted across South Korea by those calling for Yoon’s arrest, as well as those calling for his support.
A sense of chaos has emerged among the South Korean public, leading to a level of distrust in the government. Political compromise and a middle ground is essentially out of the question.
This event followed weeks of long political turmoil in South Korea, highlighting the deep polarisation that has been mounting between supporters of the two main political parties. A sense of chaos has emerged among the South Korean public, leading to a level of distrust in the government. Political compromise and a middle ground is essentially out of the question.
Yoon Suk-Yeol has since been arrested, but despite this negative image, his conservative People Power Party (PPP) have witnessed support grow slightly. If found guilty of insurrection, Yoon is faced with life in prison or the death penalty. Asia’s fourth largest economy is left in a turbulent limbo.
December was evidently a significant moment for Asia, as the west of the continent saw the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, a regime characterised by human rights abuses and violent conflict. Opposition fighters launched an attack - spearheaded by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - on pro-government forces and took the city of Aleppo within three days, dismantling over half a century of Al-Assad rule.
The collapse of the Assad regime has mostly been met with feelings of excitement and hope for a better future.
HTS have imposed a caretaker government until 1 March to provide stability and to keep the country functioning. Concerns have arisen surrounding how likely it is that HTS will want to share power in the coming months, as well as questions surrounding their previous links to Al-Qaeda and, before that, ISIS.
The collapse of the Assad regime has mostly been met with feelings of excitement and hope for a better future. Although Syria's neighbour, Israel - a longstanding ally to the Assad government - have reacted by expanding their occupation of Syrian land and carrying out air strikes, killing dozens. This shift in power will no doubt bring about political and economic uncertainty to Syria for the foreseeable future.
Speaking of political collapse, the French government crumbled in early December after opposition parties passed a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier over his draft austerity budget. Barnier proposed to cut government spending and increase tax hikes by a collective €60 billion in response to France’s enormous debt. The country’s debt is two times higher than what the EU permits.
François Bayrou has stepped up to replace Barnier as the new Prime Minister of France, except it is looking as though Bayrou’s leadership will be just as fragile as his predecessor’s. Bayrou seeks to finalise a budget for 2025 by mid-February and hopes to achieve this by essentially copying and pasting the same budget that caused the resignation of PM Barnier.
Bayrou managed to survive a vote of no-confidence on 16 January through appealing to the Socialist Party not to censure his government. The PM communicated to the Socialists that he would negotiate and appeal to the demands of the party over pension reforms, alongside preventing job cuts to those in public education.
The French government is now faced with pressure from the EU to keep costs low through its biggest fiscal cuts in 25 years. France is one of the bloc’s most influential members, persistent debt could mean trouble if not resolved in time. Pressure is also coming from opposition and citizens to ensure they are not left worse off, which if ignored, could prolong social upheaval.
This time around, the fear of a Trump presidency seems heightened with the possible threat of across-the-board tariffs on US imports.
New leadership has arrived in the US with Trump's reentry to the Whitehouse earlier this month. This time around, the fear of a Trump presidency seems heightened with the possible threat of across-the-board tariffs on US imports. If implemented, the effects would be disastrous for global trade, the environment, and workers' rights, all while protecting the profits of the wealthy.
A significant and ongoing development many people will be sure to keep an eye on is the recent announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza. What will this mean for Palestine and its people? How will Gaza be rebuilt? Will justice be given to the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed by Israel? The world will be watching and no doubt 2025 will be a year of great political transformation all across the globe.