A year of crucial elections

The coming year is one of critically important elections. Those for the presidency of the United States, the Senate, the House of Representatives and state governorships (all on November 5) will determine the future of America and of the rest of the world. But we might see major developments much earlier, as in two weeks' time (January 13), presidential and legislative elections will be held in Taiwan. The results of these will either worsen or improve the tense climate between Taipei and Beijing and, consequently, between Beijing and Washington. Presidential elections in Russia in March are less significant, as no one believes that Vladimir Putin will allow anyone to dethrone him. So, the war in Ukraine is set to continue into the foreseeable future. In Turkey, local elections would not normally draw much attention, but because Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants his party to regain the...