> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The world watches as a nation elects (Oct 22 - 29): - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/world-watches-as-nation-elects-oct-22-29/ - Published: 2012-12-14T11:12:54.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-23T01:19:49.000Z - Description: With just one week left until the US picks its President, openDemocracy continues its series of global viewpoints on the election, How it Looks From Here. - Author: openDemocracy Supporters - Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:27, #appended-excerpt Peter Drysdale argues that we may be [on the cusp](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/e94ed45927&ref=opendemocracy.net) of a deep structural fracture in the psychology of US−Chinese relations. Mexico too is at a [turning point](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/33330ed657&ref=opendemocracy.net), says Rafael Lemus, with millions of its undocumented migrants in the US waiting, powerless, for the result of the election. The outcome could even have an impact on [civil liberties in the UK](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/43aa7f6362&ref=opendemocracy.net); resigned Egypt does not see two distinct candidates, but [two sides of the same coin](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/48f1162012&ref=opendemocracy.net); and Diego Hidalgo argues that power has moved away from Europe, [a lower priority for America](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/8b78168379&ref=opendemocracy.net) now. The Gulf States are too busy reporting on war in Syria to worry too much about [elections](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/2b47904f61&ref=opendemocracy.net), but in Kenya slight disappointment doesn’t overpower the [pride](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/cfa644452c&ref=opendemocracy.net) in having “fathered” a US president. In Russia, another president has [grounds for worry](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/c15e79f03e&ref=opendemocracy.net), as Putin loses the friendship of influential people who used to be ardent supporters. Militarisation is on the up in Britain, argues Vron Ware in her new column, [‘Up in Arms’](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/8116e81071&ref=opendemocracy.net). Amid ex-military-chiefs-turned-lobbyists, private security firms involved in investigations again the Ministry of Defence, and the slow creep of soldiers into our daily lives, she asks, [what is the impact of war at home](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/b04a1f09c8&ref=opendemocracy.net)? One particular private security firm, G4S, is [followed closely by our UK section](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/d28ba17a98&ref=opendemocracy.net). A prisons report has found the company worthy of praise, [despite](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/0c51073c00&ref=opendemocracy.net) its use of ‘unacceptable force’ on a pregnant immigration detainee. They’re not alone in being criticized, as David Elstein [addresses](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/0d2b786368&ref=opendemocracy.net) a culture of immunity and blame shifting in the BBC, illuminated by the Savile scandal. As we keep our attention on the Taliban’s attempted assassination of Malala Yousufzai, [Afiya Shehrbano Zia asks](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/bdb103db51&ref=opendemocracy.net), is the Taliban an agent or a victim? (It may have inadvertently rescued the narrative around violence against women.) Ethiopia is on the agenda too, with Awol Allo and Abadir M. Ibrahim arguing that Muslim protestors there are [showing](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/5cd552ab59&ref=opendemocracy.net) that demonstrations by religious groups can be peaceful, with secularism their aim and not their nemesis. And we carry two articles on another troubled region: Maitreya Buddha Samantaray [pleads](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/54fe52b9ad&ref=opendemocracy.net) for the Hindus of Pakistian, while Zahid Shahab Ahmed asks, what will happen to the [Afghan refugees](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/ea557c20ff&ref=opendemocracy.net) there? Brace yourself for next week’s showdown in the US by following openDemocracy, we’ll carry more global perspectives on how it matters – and some on why it doesn’t. Don’t miss: - The [return](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/457a7e855f&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the Arab-Israeli Book Review - Catalan bishops will [support independence](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/735e043022&ref=opendemocracy.net) - [Slaughter](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/abe537eeb7&ref=opendemocracy.net) of migratory birds in China - A great [infographic](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/5d8949623e&ref=opendemocracy.net) on the political history of US Congress **openDemocracy’s week in 1 minute is emailed to Members, Friends and authors who help pay for and create our great content. Please forward this to any contact you think might be interested and** [**want to join**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/f768757e0e/openDemocracy/bb28beb484/946f39415f/51634b1085/openDemocracy/d4022f1a75/TEST/e64101092e&ref=opendemocracy.net) **or email us (**[**supporters@opendemocracy.net**](mailto:supporters@opendemocracy.net)**).** With just one week left until the US picks its President, openDemocracy continues its series of global viewpoints on the election, [How it Looks From Here](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/8d0156d419/7262321cfa/d56694ca5c&ref=opendemocracy.net).