2024 was a historic year for democracy. Alongside ongoing global challenges, including the tragic war in Ukraine and renewed conflicts in the Middle East, more than 730 million people were called to the polls–the highest number and percentage ever. For one thing, it’s the first time in history that the EU, US and UK elections are all taking place in the same year, marking a pivotal moment for the future of global politics. And of course the 2024 UK general election proved to be historic too, albeit not for the best reasons (for our in-depth analysis, click here).
But what does this all mean for Scotland?
Will we see any real shift in the UK’s relationship with the EU? Is the EU itself evolving, and what implications might this have for its enlargement and the state of democracy across Europe? And what are Scotland’s prospects in a world that could soon see the first female US president—or a return of the man behind the Capitol riots four years ago?
These are just some of the pressing questions we will explore in our upcoming event: The Year of Elections and What It Means for Scotland: A Conversation with Kirsty Hughes and Anthony Barnett.
Join us next Thursday, October 3rd, at 7 PM, live on our YouTube channel and via Independence Live’s and our social media platforms, as we engage in conversation with two renowned scholars and intellectuals:
- Kirsty Hughes is an expert on European and international politics. From 2017-2021, she was the director and founder of the Scottish Centre on European Relations, Scotland’s first independent EU think tank. With a wealth of experience in EU policy making and a deep understanding of Scotland’s place in the changing European landscape, Hughes is an influential voice on Brexit, European democracy, and Scotland’s future within the EU.
- Anthony Barnett is the founding editor of openDemocracy and one of the UK’s leading intellectuals and political commentators, as well as our very own co-founder. As an activist and writer, Barnett has a long history of advocating for democratic reform and constitutional change in the UK. His deep insights into British politics, Brexit, and democratic movements make him a key figure in understanding the ongoing shifts in the UK’s political landscape.
Click here to register for the event.
Don’t miss this insightful conversation about Scotland’s place in a rapidly shifting world.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
In European solidarity,
The EfS team