A far right surge, global conflicts, the Olympic games, and more from a history-making year.
2024 was a year marked by change. From historic elections that broke away at centuries of precedent, to eruptions of global unrest, the year saw a catastrophic shift in global order. And while this change produced moments of heartbreak, it also saw a growth in innovation and community. From the Olympic games, to the rise in AI softwares, 2024 was nothing short of wondrous. So, as 2025 begins, let's take a look back at some of the biggest headlines and trends that defined the historical year 2024.
A Year of Elections and Upheaval
2024 was foremost a year of elections. With over half of humanity – that is over 60 countries – selecting new leaders, 2024 was the largest (and perhaps most consequential) year ever for the democratic system.
One election in particular was historical given its enormous size. In India, over 1 billion people were estimated to be registered in its 2024 general election. Ultimately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party secured a 3rd consecutive term but were forced into a coalition government with an unexpected blow by the opposition.
Elsewhere, in South Africa and Japan, historically dominant incumbent parties faced tremendous setbacks when The African National Congress (which has been in majority since the fall of Apartheid in 1994) failed to win a majority. Similarly, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, which held power for the bulk of the post-World War II era, lost a parliamentary majority.
In Europe, parliamentary elections dominated the summer as a surge in far-right groups claimed EU seats. And although France and the UK saw left-wing deterrents in their domestic elections (with Labour achieving a majority in the UK parliament and The New Popular Front fending off the National Rally in France) a surge in right-wing populism has nevertheless cemented itself within Europe’s political landscape.
So with a rise in anti-establishment sentiment, 2024 marked a year of questioning of incumbents – and the general status quo.
This intense questioning largely came to light in the instance of South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol declaring martial law. A member of South Korea's conservative party, President Yoon’s legislative agenda had been stalled by the center-left opposition, emboldening him to suspend the congressional government. Outraged, the national assembly unanimously voted down his decree and quickly impeached him from office. However, in the wake of this event, similar political turmoil and upheaval have led to the ousting of the acting president after just two weeks in office.
So, with South Korea facing a rough start to 2025, many other democratic nations around the world have been left in a similar era of political uncertainty. With a rise in right-leaning parliamentary power and a push towards isolationist policy, the biggest year for democracy might have also produced the biggest year against it.
-Nate Littell
Trump 2.0
In the United States, the year of elections nevertheless dominated national headlines. In March, the presumed ticket of each party became clear when the only substantial challenge to Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, ceded her race as the Republican nominee. Meanwhile, despite some calls to step down, President Joe Biden remained an eager candidate to recapture the White House given that his opponent faced numerous legal woes and a 34-felony count criminal conviction.
However, in June, the main turning point of the election occurred when Trump and Biden met for a 90-minute debate. In the end, even as Trump produced a slough of falsehoods, it was Biden who suffered as he appeared frail and unintelligible. Thus, nearly a month later, Biden announced he would end his campaign, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
With only 100 days left until November 5th (Election Day), Both Harris and Trump ran nonstop campaigns. With the help of Beyoncé, Oprah, and numerous other big name celebrities, Harris gained a sense of momentum, raising over $1 billion and putting Trump on the defensive in a September debate.
But while the issue of abortion, gun protection, and healthcare were crucial on the 2024 ballot, it was the cost of living and immigration that tied Harris to Biden’s weaknesses and ultimately cost her the presidency.
Victorious, Trump had largely defied the status quo. He went from literally sitting in a courthouse and being found guilty of falsification of business records, to winning all seven swing states plus the popular vote. After a year that saw two assassination attempts against him and four felony cases, he ended up in return with four more years as the commander-in-chief.
With Trump’s victory, Republicans also won a majority in both the House and Senate, empowering a right-wing political agenda. With a mandate in hand, Trump now returns to the White House emboldened to new extents.
So, as 2025 commences, many historians describe Trump’s second term as “Trump 2.0” given he has almost unfettered power with relatively few checks from other government branches. With plans to deport millions of immigrants, cut regulations, impose foreign tariffs, and step away from the US’s traditional role as the global “peacekeeper”, Trump will bring forth an onslaught of changes to the conventional role of the executive branch.
Over the next four years, there is no question that President Donald Trump – perhaps the most known yet underestimated man in 21st-century politics – will transform our shared history. From the moment he descended down his golden escalator in 2015, Trump became a facet of the American identity. Instead, the question will be, to what extent the appetite for a disrupter will impair the institution of American democracy?
-Nate Littell
Global Conflicts
In the wake of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel killing 1,139 people and abducting 254 hostages, the subsequent assault on Gaza has culminated into one of the most dire humanitarian crises faced by any civilian population this century. More than 46,000 people have died since the onset of Israel’s assault, and according to the United Nations, on average, about 130 people have been killed every day in Gaza over the past 10 months. The scale of the Israeli military's destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and places of worship is deeply shocking. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, which currently includes a famine and healthcare collapse,
In Gaza’s northern governorates, where famine looms for 300,000 people in the coming weeks, the dire images of hunger are haunting—children crying out in pain, families surviving on animal fodder and leaf soup, and desperate people risking gunfire to reach blocked aid convoys. Matthew Hollingworth of the World Food Programme calls it “a dark mark on the world’s inability to stop this from happening,” as catastrophic hunger now grips 1.1 million Gazans, doubling in just three months. With humanitarian access severely restricted, particularly in northern Gaza due to Israel’s blockade, and famine-like conditions spreading elsewhere, experts warn that without a ceasefire and massive aid, this manmade disaster will deepen, leaving an indelible stain on global conscience.
With an unbridled 12 months of death and destruction—more chaos than the razing of Syria’s Aleppo from 2012-2016, Ukraine’s Mariupol or, proportionally, the Allied bombing of Germany in World War II—American policy toward Israel under a new Trump administration will likely stay consistent, and considering precedent, global institutions such as the U.N. will not make the efforts to intervene in the crisis.
In the United States, starting in 2023 and throughout the Spring semester, campus protests engulfed colleges across the United States. At institutions like UCLA, Harvard, and Columbia, students erected encampments and occupied buildings, demanding divestment from companies linked to Israel because of the country's attack on Gaza and the subsequent humanitarian crisis. These actions have often been met with police intervention, many times excessive, students filing reports of tasering, pepper spraying, and the sustaining of injuries. The NYPD, involved in dispersing many protests in New York, claimed to prioritize safety and free speech, but incidents like a gun discharge during a Columbia protest highlight tensions. Organizers argue universities’ responses have exacerbated violence and infringed on First Amendment rights, intensifying scrutiny of both law enforcement and institutional decision-making. In all, the crackdown on free speech and the right to assemble has left America wondering at its own hypocrisy over its own moral debacle to uphold academic freedom at its finest institutions.
In 2024, Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression intensified, marked by significant military engagements and complex geopolitical developments. The year concluded with escalated hostilities, as both nations launched major attacks, undermining peace negotiations. Russia targeted Kyiv and Sumy with cruise missiles, while Ukraine retaliated in the Kursk region using American-supplied Himars missiles. Notably, Ukraine employed a seaborne drone to down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter near Crimea, showcasing advancements in its military capabilities.
Throughout the year, Ukraine faced internal challenges, including a foiled coup plot in July and the assassination of former Svoboda MP Iryna Farion. Internationally, NATO allies pledged €40 billion in military aid for 2025, and the European Union transferred €1.5 billion from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's military and infrastructure.
Russian forces captured approximately 800 square kilometers (310 square miles) of Ukrainian territory, primarily in the eastern regions, marking a notable expansion of control. The human cost of the conflict has been staggering. As of October 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed, with an additional 370,000 wounded. On the Russian side, the Pentagon estimated over 600,000 military casualties, including both killed and injured personnel. Civilian casualties have also been severe, with over 12,100 deaths reported as of October 2024.
As the conflict approaches its third year, the international community remains watchful, with the incoming U.S. administration expressing intentions to address the war's complexities. Trump has demonstrated in the past that he intends to dismantle America’s long-standing commitment to Ukraine’s fight against Russia, last year pressing United States lawmakers to delay a $61.4B military aid package to Ukraine, and claiming he would end the Ukraine war “in a day” if he won. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the necessity of a strong Ukraine to secure peace and respect on the global stage, underscoring the nation's unwavering resolve in the face of ongoing challenges.
Separately, in Russia, Alexei Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist, died February 16, 2024 while imprisoned in a penal colony within the Arctic Circle. His death, officially attributed to "sudden death syndrome," has been widely regarded as a direct consequence of the Kremlin's longstanding efforts to silence dissent.
Navalny's relentless exposure of governmental corruption and his unwavering opposition to President Vladimir Putin made him a symbol of resistance within Russia. His 2020 poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok, attributed to Russian security services, and subsequent imprisonment underscored the regime's determination to suppress his influence.
Internationally, Navalny's death has been perceived as a stark indicator of Russia's deepening authoritarianism. Domestically, his passing has galvanized both supporters and critics. Spontaneous memorials emerged across Russian cities, with citizens laying flowers at monuments dedicated to victims of political repression. These acts of remembrance were met with police detentions, reflecting the Putin’s regime’s intolerance and weakness pertaining to public dissent.
In December 2024, Syria underwent a seismic shift as rebel forces, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), swiftly overthrew President Bashar al-Assad's regime, capturing key cities including Aleppo, Hama, and ultimately Damascus. Assad fled to Russia, where he was granted political asylum, marking a dramatic end to his 24-year authoritarian rule.
This upheaval has profound implications for Syria and the broader Middle East. The power vacuum left by Assad's departure has led to a reconfiguration of regional alliances. Notably, Russia, a longstanding ally of the Assad regime, faces uncertainty regarding its military presence in Syria, including the future of its bases. Concurrently, Iran's influence has diminished, disrupting its strategic support to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The the Syrian Civil War, spanning over a decade, has left a profound mark on Syria and the world. Assad’s mass murdering of the Syrian people have remains one of the most devastating massacres of the 21st century. Since its inception in 2011, the war has claimed the lives of over 620,000 people, and forcibly displaced 14 million people according to the New York Times, with many estimates suggesting higher numbers. This staggering death toll includes tens of thousands of children and civilians who fell victim to indiscriminate bombings, chemical attacks, and sieges. Entire cities, such as Aleppo and Homs, were reduced to rubble, their populations enduring unimaginable suffering.
The year 2024 marked a pivotal chapter in Bangladesh’s political history, defined by the resignation of Sheikh Hasina in August and the subsequent appointment of Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the interim leader. After nearly 15 years of Hasina’s leadership under the Awami League, her resignation signaled a dramatic shift in the nation’s governance, driven by escalating political tensions, economic pressures, and widespread calls for reform.
Sheikh Hasina’s departure came amidst allegations of electoral malpractice, rising discontent over inflation, and a stagnating economy heavily reliant on the garment sector. Mass protests demanding fair elections and greater transparency had paralyzed the country throughout the year, reflecting a growing frustration among citizens. Her administration’s authoritarian tendencies, including crackdowns on opposition parties and journalists, undermined democratic norms.
In the aftermath of Hasina’s resignation, Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus was appointed to lead an interim government tasked with overseeing electoral reforms and preparing for a new round of national elections. Yunus, known for his pioneering work in microfinance through the Grameen Bank, is regarded as a unifying figure with significant international credibility. His appointment was widely welcomed both domestically and globally, seen as a potential turning point for restoring democratic practices.
-Jinane Ejjed
Pop Culture
While political transformation and global disorder seem to have been a motif of 2024, the year still fulfilled dreams of global unity and artistic ingenuity.
In July, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad officially kicked off in Paris despite widespread political uncertainty following Macron’s summer of snap elections. With the last summer Olympics occurring in the midst of a pandemic, this year’s games came out swinging with a stunning opening ceremony on the Seine river followed by a breathtaking performance by Celine Dion atop the Eiffel Tower.
During the games, gymnast Simone Biles saw an incredible comeback, cementing her status as the ‘GOAT’ by achieving three additional gold medals as well as a silver. USA swimmer Katie Ledecky also won four additional medals and became the most decorated American woman in Olympic history. Julien Alfred also made history by winning the first ever Olympic medal for St. Lucia while Noah Lyles won the men's 100-meter dash for team USA for the first time in 20 years. Other breakout performances included French swimmer Leon Marchand winning 4 gold medals, French judoka Teddy Riner becoming the most decorated athlete in the history of judo, and of course, Australian breakdancer Raygun going viral for her kangaroo-inspired moves.
2024 was also a history-making year for music, as rising stars like Chappel Roan, Shaboozy, and Sabrina Carpenter burst onto the Billboard Hot 100 with hits like “Espresso”, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, and “Good Luck Babe”. While the year marked a significant shift towards country music in the mainstream with Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter, new trends emerged when Charli XCX’s Brat inspired an online reaction in its collision with politics and pop culture. Elsewhere in the music industry, a feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake blew up after a wave of diss-tracks were exchanged – ultimately leading to the hit song “Not Like Us”.
Other viral moments that sprung forward included a baby pygmy hippo named Moo Deng gaining Tik Tok fame, Elmo sparking a global conversation on mental health when asking users on X “How is everybody doing?”, and a healthcare CEO shooting case igniting a nationwide divide.
So, with Wicked fittingly being one of the movies of the year, 2024 brought moments of messiness and inspiration to the pop culture scene.
-Nate Littell
Science, Tech, & Climate
Lastly, the world of technology and science saw a historic year in 2024. With the rise of artificial intelligence, global computing has been forever altered as anyone with a computer can now access groundbreaking tools like Chat GPT. Other tech companies this year also leaned into the world of AI, with Apple and Google each releasing their own AI models and tools. Meanwhile, tech platforms like Tik Tok experienced a rough year with a near-ban in the US that will likely be decided upon in Trump’s second term. And as Twitter continued its rebranding campaign as X under Elon Musk’s leadership, new social platforms like Bluesky emerged triumphant during the year.
Furthermore, several tech-involved stories this year seemed to capture how little we seem to know about the technology we are always advancing. From the door on an Alaska airlines flight falling off mid-flight to two NASA astronauts being essentially “stuck in space”, this year’s breakout stories captured the unnerving realities that seem to come with greater tech integration.
In 2024, SpaceX achieved significant milestones, including a record number of launches, advancements in reusable rocket technology, and the expansion of its Starlink satellite network. Notably, the company successfully caught a returning rocket booster, marking a pivotal step toward more cost-effective space travel. These developments underscore SpaceX's leading role in the aerospace industry and its potential for future growth.
2024 has seen climate change accelerate at an unprecedented rate, and according to the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record after an extended streak of exceptionally high monthly global mean temperatures. In Spain, catastrophic flooding occurred in early summer, particularly affecting the Mediterranean coast and Catalonia. Torrential rains overwhelmed infrastructure, submerging entire neighborhoods and claiming lives, with the floods exacerbated by record-breaking rainfall. The Spanish government declared a state of emergency and mobilized rescue teams to deal with the aftermath, while calls for enhanced flood prevention measures grew louder.
Meanwhile, Hurricanes Helene and Milton made headlines in the Atlantic, both strengthening to Category 4 storms. Helene unleashed destruction in the Caribbean, with widespread flooding in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Hurricane Milton, though less severe, brushed the southeastern U.S. coast, causing coastal erosion and storm surges. Both hurricanes, which were fueled by warmer ocean temperatures, underscored the increasing volatility of the Atlantic hurricane season.
The year also marked the highest recorded global temperatures, with wildfires raging across continents. From the U.S. West Coast to parts of Australia and the Mediterranean, fires burned hotter and longer than ever before, fueled by scorching heatwaves and dry conditions. The world experienced its hottest year on record, as heatwaves devastated communities, strained power grids, and disrupted agricultural systems. These fires served as a grim reminder of the escalating threat posed by climate change.
Amid these catastrophes, nature also presented awe-inspiring phenomena. The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, dazzled observers across the northern hemisphere, with particularly vibrant displays visible in regions from Canada to Scandinavia. Scientists attributed the intense auroras to heightened solar activity, as the sun’s cycle reached a peak in 2024. Additionally, a rare total solar eclipse in October crossed South and North America, drawing millions of skywatchers to witness the celestial event. These phenomena, while mesmerizing, highlighted the planet’s dynamic relationship with the cosmos and its climate system.
The contrasting nature of these events—from devastating disasters to breathtaking celestial displays—illustrated the stark reality of 2024: a year in which the destructive power of nature, exacerbated by human activity, was met with the fleeting mystery of the natural world.
-Jinane Ejjed
Comments