Sir, – The observation that this year has essentially been a preamble to “the big electoral contests set to take place in Ireland and across the democratic world” in 2024 is probably more true than your editorial states (“The Irish Times view on the year in politics: tectonic plates are shifting”, December 26th).
As a small open economy, we are inevitably vulnerable to influences and trends at global and international scales, often far beyond our control. The forthcoming year apparently exceeds all in human history in the degree of potential change. Countries as populous as India, Indonesia and the United States will have elections, along with nations prone to political upheaval, including Pakistan, South Sudan and Rwanda, along with some where the outcomes are highly predictable, with Russia currently an example. The leadership of countries with a total population of around 4.2 billion is due to be contested, meaning most of the world’s population could change leadership while about 2 billion people are expected to vote. The question of Sinn Féin being involved in government in Ireland may seem rather small depending on the outcomes of many of these elections. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
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Co Cork.