Indo-Pacific Analysis Brief Vol 49
Democracy’s defining year: Implications of the Indo-Pacific’s elections
December 2025
Kathryn Froend
2024 has been a pivotal year for democracy globally.
Dubbed ‘the year of elections’, 4 billion people – around half of the world’s population – have been eligible to vote across more than 40 countries.
Some of the most significant and influential of these elections occurred in the Indo-Pacific: Taiwan, Indonesia, India, and, of course, the United States. In the Indo-Pacific alone, over a billion people have cast their ballot to shape the political future of the region.
As 2024 concludes, this report unpacks the changes, major trends, and geopolitical implications of a whirlwind political year.
Key Messages
↗ 2024 has been a defining year for democracy globally, with around half the world’s population eligible to cast their ballot in elections held across more than 40 countries. Some of the most significant and influential of these elections have occurred in the Indo-Pacific.
↗ This ‘year of elections’ was marked by four big trends: democratic backsliding and resilience; the use of social media and Artificial Intelligence in election campaigns; widespread rejection of incumbent governments; and China’s geopolitical influence.
↗ Half of the elections resulted in a change of government, with significant implications for regional geopolitics. More governments are now new or inexperienced, which means changes in regional dynamics, priorities, and approaches to diplomacy as new leaders emerge.
↗ Some of Australia’s most important regional partners have undergone significant changes in leadership this year. Australia will need to navigate new dynamics in both its bilateral and multilateral relationships, especially the Quad. And it must do so whilst facing its own election next year.
