2020s in political history

2020s political history refers to significant political and societal historical events of the 2020s, presented as a historical overview in narrative format.

See also: 2020s and 2010s in political history

Millennium:	3rd millennium
Centuries:	20th century 21st century 22nd century
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s 2040s
Years:	2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
Categories:	Births Deaths By country By topic Establishments Disestablishments

List of years in politics and government
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In science 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
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World outlook

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on world economics and world affairs. Entire countries shut down large sectors of their country and their economy in order to combat the disease. major economic impacts occurred due to the highly contagious nature of this illness. In mid-2020, the United States became the country with the greatest number of cases in the world.

World events

A huge swarm of locusts threatened to engulf massive portions of the Mideast, Africa and Asia. In tandem with the Covid-19 pandemic, this posed major hazards to billions of people who might be affected. Although experts had thought the insects would die out during the dry season in December 2019, unseasonal rains caused the incursion to reach unanticipated and hazardous levels.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Major world events and issues of the 2020s

Coronavirus

Main articles: Coronavirus disease 2019 and COVID-19 pandemic

See also: COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory, and National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

In early 2020, the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 became a global pandemic. The virus was first identified in Wuhan.

By 26 March, 1.7 billion people worldwide were under some form of lockdown,[7] which increased to 3.9 billion people by the first week of April—more than half the world's population.[8][9]

By late April, around 300 million people were under lockdown in nations of Europe, including but not limited to Italy, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, while around 200 million people were under lockdown in Latin America.[10] Nearly 300 million people, or about 90 percent of the population, were under some form of lockdown in the United States,[11] around 100 million people in the Philippines,[10] about 59 million people in South Africa,[12] and 1.3 billion people have been under lockdown in India.[13][14] On 21 May 100,000 new infections occurred worldwide, the most since the start of the pandemic, while overall 5 million cases were surpassed.[15]

As of June 2020, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, with management involving treatment of symptoms, supportive care, and experimental measures.[16] The case fatality rate is estimated at between 1% and 3%.[17][18]

The WHO declared the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).[19][20] As of 29 February 2020, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are areas having evidence of community transmission of the disease.[21][22]

In March 2020, Italy announced that is closing all schools and colleges due to coronavirus.[23] The total cases worldwide were announced to have risen to 93,000. Saudi Arabia announced it would suspend the traditional umrah pilgrimage.[24] France closed 120 schools due to the coronavirus.[25] France reported that it had 257 cases of the illness.[26] Cases increased across Europe.[27] Tourist attractions were closed throughout Asian countries.[28] Israel and some other countries canceled some foreign flights from some countries.[29] Iran reported a rise in cases.[30]

Financial market problems of 2020

Black Monday was a global stock market crash on 9 March 2020 that occurred during the 2020 stock market crash.[31] Markets opened several percent lower, having fallen greatly during the preceding two weeks. Global stock markets suffered from the greatest single-day fall since 2008, during the Great Recession.[32] This record crash was soon surpassed three days later on Black Thursday. Notable contributing factors included the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war.[31][33][34]

In the United States, a circuit breaker was triggered after stocks dropped sharply, halting trade for fifteen minutes.[35] The FTSE 100 Index opened 560 points (8.6%) lower to 5920.[31] Indices in Asia, continental Europe, and the United States also fell by several percent on the same day, with the worst affected, Italy's FTSE MIB, opening 11% lower.[36] Other financial market effects included a rush to the safety of government bonds as 10-year American Treasury yields fell below 0.5% for the first time ever, appreciation of the Japanese yen, and gold rising above $1,700/ounce for the first time in seven years.[37]

Black Thursday [38][39][40][41] was a global stock market crash on March 12, 2020 as part of the greater 2020 stock market crash. Global stock markets suffered from the greatest single-day fall since the 1987 stock market crash.[42] Following Black Monday three days earlier, Black Thursday was attributed to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic and a lack of investor confidence in US president Donald Trump after he imposed a 30-day travel ban against the Schengen Area.[43]

While eastern Asia, Europe, and Oceania generally showed a decrease in infections by the summer of 2020, the number of cases in the United States and other countries (Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Mexico) in the Americas was increasing. The global figues for July 14 were 13,165,663 reported cases and 574,615 deaths.[44]

George Floyd protests

The George Floyd protests are an ongoing series of protests, riots, and demonstrations against police brutality and racism in policing. The protests began in the United States in Minneapolis on May 26, 2020,[45] following the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes during an arrest the previous day.[46]

The unrest began as local protests in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota before quickly spreading across the entire nation as well as George Floyd protests outside the United States in support of Black Lives Matter. While the majority of protests have been peaceful,[47] demonstrations in some cities descended into riots and widespread looting,[48][49] with more being marked by street skirmishes and significant police brutality, notably against peaceful protesters and reporters.[50] At least 200 cities imposed curfews by 3 June, while at least 27 states and Washington, D.C, activated over 74,000 National Guard personnel due to the mass unrest.[51][52][53] From the beginning of the protests to June 3, at least 11,000 people had been arrested,[54] including all four police officers involved in the arrest which led to Floyd's death.[55]

General world events

Environmental

The Norilsk diesel oil spill was an industrial disaster near Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, that began on 29 May 2020 when a fuel storage tank at Norilsk-Taimyr Energy's Thermal Power Plant No. 3 (owned by Nornickel) failed, flooding local rivers with up to 21,000 cubic metres (17,500 tonnes) of diesel oil.[56][57] Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency in early June.[58] The accident has been described as the second-largest oil spill in modern Russian history.[59] As a result of the spill, up to 21,000 cubic metres (17,500 tonnes) of diesel oil spilled into the Daldykan River. Greenpeace Russia compared the potential environmental effects of the Norilsk spill to that of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.[56]

In the aftermath of the Norilsk spill, Russia's Prosecutor General's office ordered safety checks at all dangerous installations built on the permafrost in Russia's Arctic.[60]

History by region

Asia

Afghanistan

The Afghan peace process comprises the proposals and negotiations in a bid to end the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Although sporadic efforts have taken place since the war began in 2001, negotiations and the peace movement intensified in 2018 amid talks between the Taliban, which is the main insurgent group fighting against the Afghan government and American troops; and the United States, of which 20,000 soldiers maintain a presence within the country to support the Afghan government. Most of the talks have taken place in Doha, the capital of Qatar. It is expected that a mutual agreement between the Taliban and the United States would be followed by a phased American withdrawal and the start of intra-Afghan peace talks.[61] Besides the United States, regional powers such as Pakistan, China and Russia, as well as NATO play a part in facilitating the peace process.[62][63]

On February 29, 2020, the U.S. signed a conditional peace agreement with the Taliban, which calls for the withdrawal of foreign troops in 14 months if the Taliban uphold the terms of the agreement.[64][65] On March 1, 2020, however, the Afghan government, which was not a party to the deal, rejected the U.S. and Taliban's call for a prisoner swap by March 10, 2020, with President Ghani stating that such an agreement will require further negotiation and will also not be implemented as a precondition for future peace negotiations.[66][67][68][69] In March 2020, the Taliban announced they would resume hostilities with the Afghan Government if the prisoners were not released.[70][71]

China

In January 2020, China faced a major public health issue due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting worldwide health concerns about the potential impact of this disease. A drop in tourism[72] and even an economic recession may result.[73]

Hong Kong

See also: 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, Democratic development in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict

The 2019–20 Hong Kong protests in Hong Kong were a series of protests against the Chinese government, starting in 2019 and into 2020. A new national security law was enacted on 30 June 2020 by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.[74]

Malaysia

On 24 February 2020, Malaysia experienced a political crisis 2020 Malaysian political crisis for almost a week after the resignation of the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad. Immediately that afternoon, the Yang Dipertua Agong re-appointed Mahathir Mohamad as the Interim Prime Minister to solve the political crisis. On 29 February 2020, Yang Dipertuan Agong, King Abdullah of Pahang has agreed to appoint Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia and was sworn in at the Istana Negara on 1 March 2020.

On 18 March 2020, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declared a Movement Control Order to curb the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) throughout Malaysia, This Movement Control Order is implemented under the Infectious Disease Prevention Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967.

India

See also: Premiership of Narendra Modi; Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 § Protests; and Citizenship Amendment Act protests

The Citizenship Amendment Act (Bill) protests occurred after the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) by the Indian government on 12 December 2019, which triggered widespread ongoing protests across India and abroad against the act and the associated proposals to enact a National Register of Citizens (NRC).[75] The protests began in Assam,[76] Delhi,[77] Meghalaya,[78] Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura on 4 December 2019,[79] and quickly spread across the country, although the concerns of the protesters vary.[80]

In March 2020, a total of 46 people in New Delhi alone had been fatally injured due to the riots and disorder.[81] The riots in New Delhi were largely due to anti-Muslim sentiment. There were widespread reports of violence directed against Muslims.[82][83][84] An Indian police officer was widely commended for risking his life to protect Muslims who were in danger. There were also various reports on individual Hindus who intervened to protect Muslims from mob violence.[85][86][87]

Various Muslim countries formally expressed concern.[88]

The Amendment created a pathway to Indian citizenship for illegal migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who had entered India before 2014 fleeing religious persecution.[89] The Amendment does not provide the same pathway to Muslims and others from these countries, nor to refugee Sri Lankan Tamils in India, Rohingyas from Myanmar, or Buddhists from Tibet.[90] The proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be an official record of all legal citizens of India; individuals would need to provide a prescribed set of documents issued before a specified cutoff date to be included in it.[91]

The amendment has been widely criticised as discriminating on the basis of religion, in particular for excluding Muslims.[92] Protestors against the amendment demand that it be scrapped and that the nationwide NRC not be implemented.[93][94][95] They are concerned that Muslim citizens of India, as well as poor Indians, will be rendered stateless and put into detention camps by the proposed nationwide NRC in combination with the CAA.[96][97][98][99] They are also concerned that all citizens will be affected by the bureaucratic exercise of the NRC where they will have to prove their citizenship for inclusion in the registry.[100][101] The protesters have raised voices against authoritarianism, the police crackdown in other universities, and suppression of protests.

Protesters in Assam and other northeastern states do not want Indian citizenship to be granted to any refugee or immigrant, regardless of their religion, as they fear it would alter the region's demographic balance, resulting in a loss of their political rights, culture, and land. They are also concerned that it will motivate further migration from Bangladesh as well as violate the Assam Accord, which was a prior agreement reached with the central government on migrants and refugees.[102][103]

The protests started in Assam on 4 December 2019, after the bill was introduced in parliament. Later on, protests erupted in Northeast India, and subsequently spread to the major cities of India. On 15 December, major protests took place near Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University. As the protests spread, private and public property was burnt and destroyed by mobs, and some railway stations were vandalized.[104][105][106] Police forcibly entered the campus of Jamia, used batons and tear gas on the students, and more than 200 students were injured while around 100 were detained overnight in the police station. The police action was widely criticized and resulted in students across the country protesting in solidarity.[107][108]

Russia

See also: 2020 Russian constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum wiil be held in Russia in 2020.[109] The draft amendments to the Constitution were submitted to a referendum in accordance with article 2 of the Law on Amendments to the Constitution.[110] The voting was originally scheduled for 22 April, but due to the coronavirus pandemic the vote was postponed to a later date.[111] It had been noted that the initial vote date coincided with Lenin's 150th birthday.[112][113]

The referendum is referred to as an All-Russian vote, as it is not held in accordance with the Federal Constitutional Law on the Referendum. Unlike a referendum carried out in accordance with the referendum law, voters will be asked whether they approve the entire revised constitution as a whole, rather than approving each amendment separately.[114] At the same time, there are no differences from the referendum, just as in 1993, when the All-Russian vote on the adoption of the Constitution was held, which was also not officially referred to as a referendum.

The referendum was proposed by President Vladimir Putin during his 2020 Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.[115]

Turkey

See also: 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020), and Operation Olive Branch

In March 2020, Turkey started a military offensive against the Syrian Armed Forces as part of its intervention in the Syrian Civil War.[116] That same month Turkey also declared that it would no longer stop migrants from entering the European Union.[117]

Middle East and Northern Africa

Regional outlook

As a result of the Arab Spring which began in 2011, which evolved into what some considered the Arab Winter, much of the region was riven by massive instability and conflict, which was continuing as of 2020.

The wave of initial revolutions and protests faded by mid-2012, as many Arab Spring demonstrations met with violent responses from authorities,[118][119][120] as well as from pro-government militias, counter-demonstrators and militaries. These attacks were answered with violence from protesters in some cases.[121][122][123] Large-scale conflicts resulted: the Syrian Civil War;[124][125] the rise of ISIL, insurgency in Iraq and the following civil war;[126] the Egyptian Crisis, coup, and subsequent unrest and insurgency;[127] the Libyan Civil War; and the Yemeni Crisis and following civil war.[128] Regimes that lacked major oil wealth and hereditary succession arrangements were more likely to undergo regime change.[129]

A power struggle continued after the immediate response to the Arab Spring. While leadership changed and regimes were held accountable, power vacuums opened across the Arab world. Ultimately, it resulted in a contentious battle between a consolidation of power by religious elites and the growing support for democracy in many Muslim-majority states.[130] The early hopes that these popular movements would end corruption, increase political participation, and bring about greater economic equity quickly collapsed in the wake of the counter-revolutionary moves by foreign state actors in Yemen,[131] the regional and international military interventions in Bahrain and Yemen, and the destructive civil wars in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.[132]

Some have referred to the succeeding and still ongoing conflicts as the Arab Winter.[124][125][126][127][128] As of May 2018, only the uprising in Tunisia has resulted in a transition to constitutional democratic governance.[133] Recent uprisings in Sudan and Algeria show that the conditions that started the Arab Spring are not going away and political movements against authoritarianism and exploitation are still occurring.[134]

The 2018–2020 Arab protests in Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt were seen as a continuation of the Arab Spring.[135][136]

In 2020, multiple conflicts are still continuing that might be seen as a result of the Arab Spring. The Syrian Civil War has caused massive political instability and economic hardship in Syria, with the Syrian currency plunging to new lows.[137] In Libya, a major civil war is ongoing, with Western powers and Russia sending in proxy fighters.[138][139]

In Yemen, a civil war continues to affect the country.[140] In Lebanon, a major banking crisis is threatening the economy of neighboring Syria.

Iran

See also: 2019–2020 Persian Gulf crisis, 2020 Iran protests, and 2020 Iranian legislative election

In January 2020, the United States assassinated the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, general Qasem Soleimani. This led to an Iranian missile strike against bases housing US troops in Iraq five days later. As a result of expectations of a US retribution, the Iranian air defence system accidentally shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing all 176 people on board.[141]

Israel was suspected of being behind at least five explosions and fires at Iranian nuclear sites in the summer of 2020.[142] Some observers suggested it could escalate into war, possibly including the U.S.[143]

Iraq

See also: 2019–2020 Iraqi protests

In 2020, demonstrations took place in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, over popular discontent with government corruption, unemployment, poor government services, and foreign interference within Iraq. Reports said that 450 protesters had been fatally shot by security forces.[144] Major protests were based in Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar province, with hundreds of protesters arriving there from other cities.[145] New clashes erupted in Baghdad between protesters and security forces, with security forces using gunfire against protesters.[146][147][148] One march included more than 1,000 students.[149]

In March 2020, Mohammed Allawi sent a letter to the President of Iraq, stating that he had to decline to take office as Prime Minister since the Iraqi Parliament had declined to approve his cabinet.[150][151][152] Reports indicated that the crowds of protesters in Baghdad had expressed widespread opposition to Allawi.[144][153]

Libya

Main article: Libyan peace process § Political track

In February 2020, the political track of the Libyan peace process started in Geneva among 20 Libyans, from both the Tobruk-based and Tripoli-based parts of the Libyan House of Representatives, and from the independent persons' group selected by UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), including Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, former Education Minister Othman Abdul Jalil and former head of the HCS Abdulrahman Sewehli.[154] The aimed composition was 13 HoR representatives from both the Tobruk and Tripoli branches, 13 HCS representatives and 14 UNSMIL-selected independent Libyans, for a total of 40.[155]

In June 2020, the civil war was ongoing, with Western powers and Russia sending in proxy fighters. Rebel leader Khalifa Haftar and his rebel group, the "National Libyan Army," were defeated and pushed out of Tripoli by the Libyan Government of National Accord forces. However, the apparent insertion of new military combat forces by various other powers, including Russia, Turkey, Egypt, the US, and NATO, seemed likely to cause major increase in conflict and upheaval.[156][139]

Syria

See also: Syrian civil war, Timeline of the Syrian Civil War, Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (January–April 2020), and Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)

In early 2020, there was some evidence of new positive ties between the Syrian government and the Kurdish leaders in the autonomous region of Rojava, as the Kurds asked the Syrian government for help and protection against Turkish forces who invaded that region of Syria.[157]

In early 2020, the Syrian Civil War flared up, with massive fighting between Syrian government forces and rebel groups in northwestern Syria. The conflict began to threaten to draw Turkey and Syria into armed conflict, as Turkey seemed to support some rebel groups. In the wake of the withdrawal by the United States of most of its troops from the war zone in Syria, Russia stepped in as a mediator between the factions, i.e., between the Syrian government, local Kurdish groups, Turkey, and some rebel groups.

New waves of migrants fled over the Turkish border and also attempted to enter Greece, but were barred by Greek forces. There were concerns about a new refugee crisis possibly overtaking the region.

In March 2020, Syria claimed that a number of its soldiers had been killed in Turkish attacks.[158] Turkey warned that millions of migrants might head for the EU.[159] Greece suspended all asylum applications.[160]

In May 2020, Special UN Envoy Geir Pedersen said that warring factions had indicated some willingness to have new peace talks.[161]

In May 2020, there were reports of tensions between Putin and the Assad government. Even though the Syrian government appeared to have succeeded in most of its war against rebel groups, there were new threats to the stability of Assad's government, due to tension with his political allies, discontent amongst Syrian citizens, and an internal rift in the Assad family.[162][163][164]

Fighting in the Syrian Civil War continued around the areas of Idlib and Aleppo in northwestern Syria.[165]

In June 2020, the Syrian pound underwent a dramatic collapse. The US Government stated via US Envoy James Jeffrey that the collapse would be exacerbated due to sanctions, and offered to help Assad if he agreed to meet certain conditions for political reform.[166]

There were reports in June 2020 that American and Russian troops had faced each other in a standoff in Northeast Syria.[167]

On 10 June, hundreds of protesters returned to the streets of Sweida for the fourth consecutive day, rallying against the collapse of the country’s economy, as the Syrian pound plummeted to 3,000 to the dollar within the past week.[168]

On 11 June, Prime Minister Imad Khamis was dismissed by President Bashar al-Assad, amid anti-government protests over deteriorating economic conditions.[169] The new lows for the Syrian currency, and the dramatic increase in sanctions, began to appear to raise new threats to the survival of the Assad government.[170][171][172]

Analysts noted that a resolution to the current banking crisis in Lebanon might be crucial to restoring stability in Syria.[173]

Some analysts began to raise concerns that Assad might be on the verge of losing power; but that any such collapse in the regime might cause conditions to worsen, as the result might be mass chaos, rather than an improvement in political or economic conditions.[174][175][176] Russia continued to expand its influence and military role in the areas of Syria where the main military conflict was occurring.[177]

In June 2020, there were concerns that massive sanctions by the US via the legislation known as the Caesar Act could cause massive instability and hardship, spreading chaos through the region, with no benefit at all to economic or political conditions.[137]

Yemen

See also: Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)

The Yemeni Civil War is an ongoing conflict that began in 2015 between two factions: the Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi led Yemeni government and the Houthi armed movement, along with their supporters and allies. Both claim to constitute the official government of Yemen.[178]

Houthi forces currently control the capital Sanaʽa, allied with forces loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, have clashed with the forces loyal to Hadi who are based in Aden. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have also carried out attacks, with AQAP controlling swathes of territory in the hinterlands, and along stretches of the coast.[179] Concurrently, the Hadi government is in conflict with UAE forces as a result of UAE military measures such as the United Arab Emirates takeover of Socotra and UAE-backed STC takeover of Aden.[180]

In June 2020, the civil war continues to affect the country. Yemen's government reported new violations by the Houthi rebel groups, including misuse of state funds, and urgently requested help from the United Nations.[140] Also, billions of locusts were reported to be invading the country, damaging massive amounts of crops and farmland.[181]

Sub-Saharan Africa

See also: Sub-Saharan Africa

As the 2020s begin, there is the possibility of unprecedented economic growth throughout Africa, based on probable increases in trade when the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) goes fully into effect on July 1, 2020, abolishing 90% of tariffs between member states and bringing a 50% increase in trade in the next few years.[182][183] This economic growth could lead directly to increases in life expectancy, literacy, and per capita income.

Nigeria and South Africa account for the largest shares of Africa's GDP at 29.3% and 19.1%, respectively.[184] Civil strife and terrorism continue to plague the continent, particularly in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.[185] Finally, Africa is more vulnerable than any other region to the world's changing weather patterns.[186]

West Africa

See also: 2020 in West Africa

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria face serious challenges related to security and terrorism such as the January 2020 2020 Gamboru bombing.[187][188] In January 2020 the United States called for a reduction of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) with a new focus on protecting civilians. France and Russia opposed reductions.[189]

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a continuing issue in Guinea, the Gambia, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Sierra Leone.[190]

Senegalese-born American rapper Akon's new "Akon City" located near Dakar,[191] investment in solar energy,[192] and a transition toward eco-farming on a national scale are Senegal's responses to climate change.[193]

East Africa

See also: 2020 in East Africa

Human rights concerns and freedom of the press are highlighted in South Sudan,[194] Comoros,[195] and Tanzania as 2020 begins.[196]

Ethiopia

Tensions began to rise again between Ethiopia and Eritrea, after several years of efforts to negotiate peace, due to possible border disputes.[197][198][199]

After having won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government adopted some policies which raised some concerns about political developments in Ethiopia. Abiy dissolved the governing coalition and formed a new party, the Prosperity Party; some said the imposition of a brand-new political party was detrimental to political stability. Also, the government enacted some restrictions on some forms of expression which raised concern about standards of free speech.[200][201] Abiy's response to rebel groups has raised some concerns about undue harshness, although some others allege that he was originally too lenient.[202][203] Amnesty International raised concerns about the status of one opposition leader.[204][205] Abiy encouraged Ethiopian refugees to return home, due to improving conditions.[206]

Sudan

See also: Sudanese peace process

In January 2020, progress was made in peace negotiations, in the areas of land, transitional justice and system of government issues via the Darfur track of negotiations. SRF and Sovereignty Council representatives agreed on the creation of a Special Court for Darfur to conduct investigations and trials for war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out during the War in Darfur by the al-Bashir presidency and by warlords. Two Areas negotiations with SPLM-N (al-Hilu) had progressed on six framework agreement points, after a two-week pause, but disagreement remained on SPLM-N (al-Hilu)'s requirement of a secular state in South Kordofan and Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile self-determination. On 24 January on the Two Areas track, political and security agreements, constituting a framework agreement, were signed by Hemetti on behalf of the Sovereignty Council and Ahmed El Omda Badi on behalf of SPLM-N (Agar). The agreements give legislative autonomy to South Kordofan and Blue Nile; propose solutions for the sharing of land and other resources, and aim to unify all militias and government soldiers into a single unified Sudanese military body.

On 26 January, a "final" peace agreement for the northern track, including issues of studies for new dams, compensation for people displaced by existing dams, road construction and burial of electronic and nuclear waste, was signed by Shamseldin Kabashi of the Sovereignty Council and Dahab Ibrahim of the Kush Movement.[207][208][209]

In February 2020, a new unity government was announced, to govern the entire country, with the support of all sides of the conflict.[210][211] As one part of the agreement, the current cabinet was disbanded, in order to enable more opposition members to be appointed to cabinet roles.[212][213][214][215] In March 2020, negotiators and officials on both sides of the conflict attempted to work out arrangements to facilitate the appointment of civilian governors for various regions, in concert with ongoing peace efforts.[216] The EU announced its support for the peace efforts and pledged to provide financial support of 100 million Euros.[217]

Central Africa

See also: 2020 in Middle Africa

Southern Africa

Europe

European Union

The European Union reduced in member states from 28 to 27 with the exit of the United Kingdom on January 31, 2020.

Greece

Following a surge of migrant arrivals from Turkey, Greece suspended all asylum applications in March 2020.[218]

Ireland

The 2020 Irish general election resulted in a historic win for the Sinn Féin, making it the second largest party of the Dáil Éireann.[219] The result was seen as a historic shift in Ireland's political landscape, effectively ending the two-party system of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.[220] The reason for the electoral upset for these parties was believed to be in voter dissatisfaction on issues of health, housing and homelessness.[221]

On 8 February 2020, the members of the 33rd Dáil were elected in the general election. The Fine Gael-led government, led by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was defeated, with Sinn Féin taking the most first preference votes, and Fianna Fáil taking the most seats. The Sinn Féin victory came as a surprise and an upset, as it ended the two-party rule of Fine Gael in Fianna Fáil that had existed for many decades,[222][223] and polls did not show Sinn Féin winning until the election was called. Sinn Féin won 37 seats, Fianna Fáil won 38, and Fine Gael won 35.[224] A government for the 33rd Dáil has yet to be formed.

United Kingdom

See also: Premiership of Boris Johnson, Brexit, Brexit negotiations in 2019, and 2020s in United Kingdom political history

Brexit[225] (a portmanteau of "British" and "exit") is the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). Following a UK-wide referendum in June 2016, in which 52% voted to leave and 48% voted to remain in the EU, the British government formally announced the country's withdrawal in March 2017, beginning the Brexit process. The withdrawal was delayed by deadlock in the British parliament. Following a general election, Parliament ratified the withdrawal agreement, and the UK left the EU at 11 p.m. GMT on 31 January 2020. This began a transition period that is set to end on 31 December 2020, during which the UK and EU will negotiate their future relationship.[226] The UK remains subject to EU law and remains part of the EU customs union and single market during the transition, but is no longer part of the EU's political bodies or institutions.[227][228]

In early 2020, the covid-19 pandemic caused thousands to fall ill across the UK, with thousands of cases that proved to be fatal.[229]

North America

Caribbean

See also: 2020 in the Caribbean

In Haiti, there is pressure on President Jovenel Moïse due to charges of corruption, poor living conditions, a high crime rate, and rising inflation.[230] Puerto Rico continues to struggle with the devastation from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and a series of earthquakes in 2019-20 and a subsequent political shakeup.[231]

Central America regional items

See also: 2020 in Central America

Internal and external migration are major concerns throughout the region.[230]

Human rights and oppression are a major concern in Nicaragua, which saw 70,000 emigrants in 2019. Costa Rica is struggling to care for 55,000 of those migrants. President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador is popular, but the country's economy is stagnant and crime continues to grow. Guatemala and Honduras are also facing corruption and high crime rates, as well as suffering from the effects of climate change.[230]

Dominican Republic

See also: 2020 Dominican Republic general election

In March 2020, massive protests occurred in the Dominican Republic, due to announced postponement of national elections.[232]

Mexico

See also: Presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, LXIV Legislature of the Mexican Congress, and Fourth Transformation

As the Fourth Transformation enters its second year, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) faces challenges involving social violence (particularly drug-related and other killings),[233] corruption, major infrastructure development, universal health care,[234] and decentralization of the government.[235][236] At a news conference on January 15, 2020, journalist Jorge Ramos pointed that during AMLO's first year as president, there were more homicides than under his predecessors; Ramos asked if a change in strategy and/or personal were required. The president assured him that we would see results by December.[237]

Following several notorious cases of femicide, violence against women emerges as a priority concern. Hundreds of thousands march on March 8[238] and millions of women strike on March 9, 2020.[239]

United States

See also: Presidency of Donald Trump, Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency (2020 Q1), 116th United States Congress, 2020 United States presidential election, 2020 United States federal budget, and 2020s in United States political history

The Impeachment of Donald Trump and the 2020 United States presidential election dominate the first year of the decade. Foreign policy concerns are primarily related to trade and tariffs, disengagement from the Middle East, and Iran–United States relations. Domestic issues include gun control and gun rights, immigrations, student loan debt, health care, climate change, and abortion rights.[240] As the nation ages, funding of social programs and the national debt ($23 trillion in January 2020) will be major concerns in the decade to come.[241]

In early 2020, the outbreak of coronavirus in the United States resulted in mass shutdowns of government in cities across the country in order to try to control the spread of this highly-contagious illness.

In May 2020, the Killing of George Floyd while in police custody led to massive protests in widespread cities around the nation.

South America

Women's rights, including the right to abortion and concerns about femicide and rape are major concerns throughout the region. Improvements on environmental issues have been tied to international trade agreements.[230]

Argentina

Argentina's economy faces major problems of debt, inflation, and growing poverty. Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is on trial for corruption.[230]

Bolivia

After the contested 2019 Bolivian general election and the subsequent political crisis, Bolivia struggles to restore democracy.[230]

Bolivians are now protesting against the opposition movement, as they feel that the movement's leaders have failed to unify in support of one credible candidate who could replace the current leaders.[242]

In early 2020, MIT released a study which cast major doubts on the claims in 2019 by the OAS which asserted that massive election fraud had occurred, and which were responsible for compelling President Evo Morales to step down from office.[243][244][245][246][247]

Brazil

Entering its second year in power, the Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro struggles with its fight against corruption and crime while being under fire for its anti-environmentalist policies and its handling of the 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires.[230]

Chile

See also: 2019–2020 Chilean protests

After turbulence in 2019 in which 25 people died and 2,300 were injured by security forces, as well as arbitrary arrests of children and torture, Chile struggles to regain popular trust in the military, police, and the media.[230]

Colombia

See also: 2019–2020 Colombian protests

The 2019–20 Colombian protests are a collection of ongoing protests that began on 21 November 2019. Hundreds of thousands of Colombians demonstrated for various reasons. Some protested against various proposed economic and political reforms proposed by the government of Iván Duque Márquez, others against the few violent protestors and in favor of the Colombian peace process, etc.[248]

While mostly peaceful in nature, a few violent incidents took place throughout the protests, leading to overnight curfews in Cali and Bogotá. It is "one of the largest mass demonstrations Colombia has witnessed in recent years".[249]

Peru

See also: 2017–2020 Peruvian political crisis and 2020 Peruvian parliamentary election

The fallout from the Odebrecht scandal and corruption investigations into opposition leader Keiko Fujimori and past presidents Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016–18), Ollanta Humala (2011–16), Alejandro Toledo (2001–06), and the late Alan Garcia (1985–90 and 2006–11) continue.[230]

Early parliamentary elections were held in Peru on 26 January 2020.[250] The elections were called after President Martín Vizcarra dissolved the Congress of the Republic on 30 September 2019.[250]

All 130 congressmen corresponding to the 26 electoral districts will be elected to office for the remainder of the 2016–2021 congressional period. It was the seventh parliamentary election under the 1993 Constitution, which created the current Congress of the Republic of Peru.

Venezuela

The Crisis in Venezuela and its presidential crisis continued in 2020. On 5 January, the 2020 Venezuelan National Assembly Delegated Committee election was disputed between Luis Parra and opposition leader Juan Guaidó.[251] On 19 January, Guaidó left Venezuela and arrived in Colombia, planning to meet with Mike Pompeo, as well as traveling to Europe and the United States later.[252] On 26 March, the Department of State declared a $15 million bounty on Nicolás Maduro, as well as $10 million each on Diosdado Cabello, Hugo Carvajal, Clíver Alcalá Cordones and Tareck El Aissami, for charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.[253] Following this, Clíver Alcalá, a former general residing in Colombia, published a video claiming responsibility for a stockpile of weapons and military equipment seized in Colombia.[254] According to Alcalá, he had made a contract with Guaidó and "American advisers" in order to buy weapons to remove Maduro.[254] Alcalá did not present any evidence[254] and Guaidó rejected the allegations.[255] After wishing farewell to his family, Alcalá surrendered to US authorities on 27 March.[256] On 3 May, eight former Venezuelan soldiers were killed and seventeen rebels were captured on 3 May, including two American security contractors, after approximately 60 men landed in Macuto and tried to invade Venezuela. The members of the naval attack force were employed as private military contractors by Silvercorp USA and the operation aimed to depose Maduro from power.[257]

Oceania and Australia

Australia

The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season was particularly destructive, killing at least 28 and destroying no fewer than 3,000 homes. The fires were widespread, but New South Wales (NSW) was the hardest hit. In December 2019 the smoke around Sydney was so bad that air quality was 11 times the "hazardous" level and temperatures were over 40 °C (113°-120 °F). Natural causes such as lightning strikes started most of the fires, which were exasperated by dry conditions and drought, although police in NSW arrested at least 24 people for deliberately starting fires. In total, 7.3 million hectares (17.9 million acres) have burned across Australia's six states—an area larger than Belgium and Denmark combined. Experts estimate 500 million animals died, not including bats, frogs, or insects; one-third of Australia's koalas were killed, according to Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley.[258]

History by issues and global trends

Climate change

See also: 2019–20 Australian bushfire season

The United Nations calls climate change "the defining issue of our time",[259] and the World Health Organization says it "threatens the essential ingredients of good health - clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter - and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health".[260] 55% of American adult voters consider climate change an important issue in the 2020 United States presidential election.[261]

The environmental website Business Green predicts that the 2020 United States presidential election will be crucial to action on climate change. Incumbent Republican President Donald Trump has already pulled out of the Paris Agreement and he continues to deny climate change,[262] but his various Democratic opponents all support some kind of action on the issue.[263] The 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) was not seen as successful, and COP26 may be just as fruitless. Electric vehicles are likely to offer the cheapest option in a few years, and many energy-inefficient businesses will probably go bankrupt. "Peak meat" may come about in the middle of the decade as consumers look for vegetarian alternatives. As renewable energy becomes less expensive, the demand for new technologies, such as long-lasting batteries and carbon storage will soar. Solid, particularly plastic, waste disposal will become a greater problem as many countries ban plastic waste imports and the petroleum industry changes from energy production to other uses of petrochemicals.pdf.[264]

A February 2020 study at the University of Hawaii at Manoa predicts that 70% to 90% of coral habitats will be destroyed by 2100.[265] The United Nations issued a statement in March 2020 stating that climate change is more mortal than COVID-19, pointing out the loss of farmland, the effect of hurricanes and heatwaves, and the increase in diseases such as dengue. 100 people died and 18,000 were hospitalized in Japan while France reported 1,462 heat-related deaths in 2019. 2,800,000 people came down with dengue, leading to 1,250 deaths.[266]

The Milne Ice Shelf, on Ellesmere Island in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut, collapsed in two days at the end of July 2020. This was the last fully intact Arctic ice shelf.[267]

Human rights

Heidi Hautala, a member of the European Parliament, writes that 40 million slaves in the world generate an estimated US$150 billion in profits a year and that purchasing products made with slave labor is legal in most European markets. She called upon the EU to lead in ending child labor and slave labor.[268] Craig Kielburger, founder of WE, sees mental health, data and privacy issues, and corporate social responsibility as human rights issues of the 2020s.[269] Alex Neve of Amnesty International Canada and June Oscar, a Bunuba aboriginal woman from Australia make the case for increased attention to indigenous rights in the 2020s.[270]

The Human Rights Watch World Report 2019.pdf addresses human rights issues in Yemen, Hungary, Syria, Venezuela, Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo, China, United States, Myanmar, Turkey, Egypt, and Russia. They highlight immigration (including family separation), religious oppression, food and medicine shortages, war and chemical weapons, and a lack of democracy.[271] Amnesty International's top goals are to make same-sex relationships legal, legalize abortion, and abolish the death penalty in all countries.

Women's rights

The World Economic Forum published a report on the global gender gap in January 2020 that concludes gender parity will not be reached for 99.5 years. The report benchmarks 153 countries in four dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. The top-ranking country for parity is Iceland, and Albania, Ethiopia, Mali, Mexico, and Spain are the most improved. At least 35 countries have achieved gender parity in education, and 71 have closed at least 97% of the gap in health. Political empowerment remains poor—85 countries have never had a female head of state and women hold only 25% of all available positions, while eight countries have no women in government at all. Globally, only 55% of women (ages 15–64) are economically active, compared to 78% of men. 72 countries do not allow women to open bank accounts or obtain credit.[272]

Writing on The European Sting, Saadia Zahidi writes there are three areas where the most can be done to close the gender gap. She says that businesses must take the lead, claiming that the most diverse companies are ones that have the best long-term performance. Second, she calls for both policy incentives and political role-models. "As more women reach visible positions of power, it creates a virtuous cycle, normalizing the association of women and leadership for future generations. The role-model effect is already visible: countries with higher levels of women in political power also tend to have higher levels of women in business leadership," she writes. Third, she says we have a unique window to use education to train women in STEM fields.[273]

Technology

Trends in technology include greater use of artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles (AV), virtual reality, a ten-year human lifespan increase (due to better drugs, stem cell manipulation, and gene therapy), renewable and sustainable energy, and space (commercialization, weaponization, and exploration).[274]

In a January 2020 interview with the Financial Times, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Europe to develop its own technology, such as manufacturing of batteries, electric cars, and cloud computing. Europe depends mostly on Asia for electric car batteries, and it has no hyperscale computing companies to support companies like Amazon and Facebook.[275]

Switzerland's neutrality was called into question when it was in revealed in February 2020 that German and U.S. intelligence services had been using coding devices manufactured by Crypto AG to spy on other countries.[276]

World trade

Trump's trade wars appear to be drawing to a close as an agreement with China and the ratification of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement approach. Tomasz Brodzicki of IHS Markit predicts that world merchandise trade volume will increase by 2.7% to 14.175 billion tons (US$18.870 trillion) in 2020 and by 5% to 14.881 billion tons (US$19.795 trillion) in 2021. He forecasts the highest growth rates in 2020 for South and North America and the lowest for Africa. He predicts low trade growth for the U.S. and Canada and continuing conflicts with China, which should benefit Taiwan, Vietnam, and other parts of the ASEAN Free Trade Area. He also says the paralysis of the multilateral dispute settlement system in the World Trade Organization (WTO) will probably last.[277]

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) will go fully into effect on July 1, 2020, abolishing 90% of tariffs between member states and bringing a 50% increase in trade in the next few years.[182] In June 2019 the Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) reached a tentative agreement.pdf with the European Union. They are also looking forward to similar agreements with the United States, Canada, and the EFTA bloc—made up of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.[278]

Various analysts focused on the preservation and expansion of free trade; e.g., Michael Hirsh at Foreign Policy asserted that globalism and free trade would expand, despite the efforts of Donald Trump and other opponents of free trade.[279] Hirsh notes that despite Brexit, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains committed to free trade. He also notes that other countries are expanding their efforts to increase trade.[280]

See also

See also

General overviews 2020s 21st century List of protests in the 21st century Timeline articles for current year 2020 2020 in politics and government 2020 in science Specific issues and topics Brexit negotiations Coronavirus disease 2019 Overviews and historical topics for this period Premiership of Boris Johnson Presidency of Donald Trump Country and regional entries and timelines 2020 in the United States 2020 in United States politics and government 2020 in the Caribbean 2020 in Central America 2020 in East Africa 2020 in West Africa Related decade overviews 2020s decade overviews: 2020s in United Kingdom political history 2020s in United States political history Related decade overviews: 2010s political history 2010s in United Kingdom political history 2010s in United States political history Categories

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