Network: Wedgetail Astrostrategy Cyberstrategy Geofinance Geopolitics Geostrategy Global Energy

After the Election Super-Cycle: Mandates, Minorities and Maps

The striking pattern of the recent electoral cycle is not turnover but attrition: incumbents returned with reduced majorities, coalitions widened to survive, and foreign policy became hostage to domestic arithmetic in a dozen capitals at once.

Weak mandates travel badly

International commitments made by governments counting votes are discounted accordingly. Expect a season of summitry long on communiqués and short on ratifiable substance.