LONDON — In the global elections of 2024, a common refrain emerged among voters: “You’re fired.”

Countries representing half of the world’s population held elections this year, and many incumbents faced significant backlash. From India to the United States, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom, a wave of discontent over economic turmoil and widespread instability led voters to reject sitting governments. Some even turned to unconventional outsiders as alternatives.

As the year unfolded, the landscape for democracy appeared increasingly tumultuous, exemplified by mass protests in nations like Mozambique and Georgia, the annulment of an election in Romania, and an attempt to impose martial law in South Korea.

Cas Mudde, an international affairs professor at the University of Georgia, characterized 2024 in Prospect magazine as “a significant year for the far right, a disastrous year for incumbents, and a worrying year for democracy worldwide.”

Discontent with incumbents was a clear message from voters: they have had enough.

Rob Ford, a political scientist from the University of Manchester, linked this prevailing anti-incumbent sentiment to what he termed “electoral long COVID.” This term encapsulates the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic, such as health, educational, social, and economic challenges that have left many feeling worse off. Factors like high inflation—exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—as well as mass displacements due to conflict in the Middle East and Africa contributed to this unease.

In South Africa, rampant unemployment and inequality resulted in a heavy loss of support for the African National Congress, which governed for three decades post-apartheid. The party, previously led by Nelson Mandela, lost its grip on power in May’s elections and was compelled to form a coalition with opposition groups.

Similarly, Senegal, Ghana, and Botswana also saw incumbents overthrown, with voters expressing their dissatisfaction with long-serving parties. In contrast, Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party narrowly clung to power in December after a tense electoral race.

In November, Uruguay elected Yamandú Orsi, a leftist candidate, as the new president, marking yet another blow to sitting governments.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi experienced an unexpected setback as his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its parliamentary majority in June, resulting in a coalition government after a decade of dominance.

Japan entered a phase of uncertainty following a significant defeat for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party, which has held power for almost uninterruptedly since 1955, facing strong voter criticism over financial scandals within the party.

In July, the United Kingdom experienced a political shift when the center-left Labour Party unseated the right-of-center Conservatives, who had been in power for 14 years. The election results also highlighted a growing fragmentation, as support for traditional major parties dwindled in favor of smaller parties, including the right-wing Reform U.K. led by Nigel Farage.

Rising authoritarian sentiments were also evident across several countries. In June, elections for the European Union parliament saw conservative populists and far-right parties gain ground in both France and Germany, the EU’s leading members.

In France, the anti-immigration National Rally party won the initial round of parliamentary elections, but tactical voting by center and left parties reduced its influence in the subsequent round, leading to a fractious legislature and a precarious government that collapsed following a no-confidence vote on December 4.

Austria witnessed the far-right, pro-Russia Freedom Party defeat the conservative governing People’s Party in September, although an alliance of other parties successfully prevented it from participating in a coalition government.

Long-standing political dynasties maintained their influence, but faced opposition. In February, Pakistan elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the younger sibling of three-time leader Nawaz Sharif. Meanwhile, Indonesia elected Prabowo Subianto, son-in-law to the late dictator Suharto, as president.

In Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving female leader in the world, won a fourth consecutive term in apparently uncompetitive elections as opposition parties boycotted. However, her rule tenured for 15 years ended amid massive protests that left hundreds dead, forcing her to seek refuge in India.

Sri Lanka echoed this sentiment, as voters opted for an alternative to a discredited old guard, electing Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president amidst public discontent that had previously ousted the Rajapaksa clan.

Allegations of electoral interference became a pressing issue in 2024, with concerns regarding covert propaganda and online disinformation. Meta, the organization behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, reported having dismantled 20 election-related “covert influence operations” globally, predominantly attributed to Russia and followed by Iran and China.

In Romania, far-right candidate C?lin Georgescu surged in popularity, bolstered by a wave of TikTok videos before the presidential election’s runoff was canceled just two days prior due to alleged Russian involvement and social media manipulation. No dates have been set for a rescheduled election.

Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu triumphed in a November runoff against her pro-Moscow opponent, an election considered pivotal for the impoverished country.

Post-election protests erupted in Georgia after the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream party was accused of manipulating an October election to undermine aspirations for EU membership.

The year concluded with considerable uncertainty. Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election has raised apprehensions among allies and adversaries about the direction of his second term as he adheres to an “America First” policy.

Political instability continues to plague several nations as 2024 winds down. Venezuela remains in turmoil following a July election marred by allegations of fraud, with both President Nicolás Maduro and opposition claiming victory. Amidst a crackdown on dissent, opposition candidate Edmundo González has sought asylum in Spain.

In Mozambique, the ruling Frelimo party was declared the victor in an October election amidst claims of rigging, leading to weeks of protests that have resulted in over 100 fatalities.

In South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation by declaring martial law in response to the liberal opposition retaining power in an April election, a decision that was rapidly overturned by Parliament, which subsequently voted to impeach him.

The ride for democracy appears poised to remain bumpy into 2025, with struggling incumbents facing challenges in several countries, including Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently lost a confidence vote, triggering the prospect of an early election. In Canada, public sentiment towards the governing Liberals is dwindling as they approach their tenth year in power.

According to Seema Shah, the head of democracy assessment at the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, while global surveys indicate strong support for the concept of democracy, satisfaction levels plummet when individuals evaluate their own democratic experiences.

“People desire democracy. They appreciate the idea,” she remarked. “However, when they witness its execution, it frequently fails to meet their expectations.”