What To Expect In The Year Ahead

Will this year be as eventful and tumultuous as 2016? We asked experts to look into their crystal ball.

- Richard Van Rensburg

BREXIT. Donald Trump winning the US presidential race. President Jacob Zuma facing open rebellion from within the ranks of his own party. A year ago few would have predicted the dramatic world events of 2016. “It was a watershed year,” says Professor André Duvenhage, a political scientist at North-West University.

And in between all this there’s a crippling drought gripping most of South Africa, the growing threat of nuclear war and speculation that robots might soon take our jobs.

So what does the future hold? We talked to the experts to find out what changes might be in store over the next 12 months.

Trump, Brexit and a more conservative world

Donald Trump’s surprising election as America’s president is symptomatic of a specific spirit that’s emerged in world politics, Professor Duvenhage says.

“If you look further than Trump at the British referendum – in which the majority voted in favour of Brexit, meaning that Britain will leave the European Union (EU) – and at France, the Netherlands, Austria and Scandinavia you see a strong swing to the right,” he explains.

In Britain the Labour Party is a shadow of its former self and the Conservative Party’s “new Iron Lady”, Theresa May, is in control. She’s in favour of stricter immigration measures and a more advantageous relationship with Europe after her country leaves the EU. But compared to right-wing politicians who’ve won ground in Europe she’s moderate.

In the Netherlands, which will hold elections in March, the Freedom Party’s Geert Wilders wants to close mosques and the country’s borders, and say goodbye to the Euro currency. According to surveys, he’s among the three most popular Dutch politicians.