After the 2016 Presidential Election, there has been a lot of movement both in domestic and international politics in response to the United States' election. Here is a list of six other events that will be influenced by the choices of the United States.
1. The report to the United Nations Human Rights Council about the War in Yemen.
The conflict in Yemen between a Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels is being not-so-indirectly influenced by the United States. The U.S. government has been playing a role in the airstrikes in the region, something that was not approved by Congress and has inspired several pieces of legislation about the process which the United States uses to enter into war (see: the Foreign Assistance Act). The United Nations Human Rights Council appointed a group of special experts to review the actions in the conflict and determine whether certain actions are crimes against humanity, a report that will be made to the International Criminal Court sometime in 2018. This report may or may not come with recommendations for sanctions upon the United States.
2. The Egyptian Presidential Election.
In 2013, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousted his predecessor in a military coup and was elected as president in May of 2014. In this election, al-Sisi earned 96 percent of the vote, something very suspicious for an election that was supposedly free and fair. This is important because the outcome determines the peace in the region as well as how the United States interacts with Egypt moving forward.
3. The Hungarian Parliamentary Election.
Occurring sometime in April or May, the parliamentary election of Hungary has the power to shake up all of Europe. Viktor Orbán, who is the current prime minister of Hungary, and the majority Fidesz Party that backs him have begun to practice an "illiberal democracy" as international journalists and diplomats have described it due to the party's disregard for freedom of the press and fair election laws. The Fidesz Party controls two-thirds of the seats in the Hungarian Parliament and this election could possibly shift the tide in Hungary, although it is not likely.
4. The Mexican Presidential Election.
Put simply, Mexico played a huge role in the United States' election process this past election (think: "The Wall"). Due to the change in our political climate and the American public's fascination on building the wall between the United States and Mexico that President Trump made a key part of his presidential campaign, those statements will having a lasting effect on our relationship with Mexico and may also have an effect on their election. Keep your eyes peeled on July 1 to see the result of Mexico's election, which will be a key indicator of their feelings towards the United States.
5. The Russian Presidential Election.
Although the Russian Presidential Election is on March 18, it will most likely be uneventful. Vladimir Putin's approval rating hovers somewhere around 80 percent and has not wavered. He also continues to restrict free press and has begun jailing his legitimate political opposition. Legitimate is the key word here. Ksenia Sobchak, the Russian equivalent of Paris Hilton, has thrown her name into the ring but has told Putin that she will not be denouncing him on the campaign trail. How does one win a presidential election without pointing out their opponent's flaws? I guess we'll figure out on March 18.
6. The United States' Midterm Election.
From November 2016 until now, the political climate has been tangibly tense, with protests busting out across the country and many citizens and lawmakers calling for change. This election will determine which party has control of Congress for the next two years of Donald Trump's presidency and may determine who the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election is.
Unlike all the other items on this list, you can actually do something about this. If you're registered to vote, be active. If not, follow this link to register to vote. Your voice matters.
These are not the only important political events happening in 2018, but they are ones which will definitely have an impact on the United States in the very near future. For further information on these events, I recommend news sources such as BBC, The Economist, and The New Yorker. Happy reading!
