Terror’s electoral joker card
With an unstable public mood on both sides of the Atlantic, terrorism could prove a political wildcard in both the United States and in Europe in the months ahead.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Publications
-
This year’s GOP presidential battle isn’t the first – or even the deepest – party divide
Both major U.S. political parties have a long history of splits, splinters and other schisms.
-
American trade issues aren’t just about China
Americans have good reason to worry about competition from China, the country with which the U.S. has its largest merchandise trade deficit. But competition from high-value exporters such as Germany also poses a challenge that, so far, has been largely ignored on the campaign trail.
-
Americans, Canadians differ in concern about climate change
A majority (56%) of Canadians say climate change is harming people now, while only 41% of Americans agree.
-
So far, turnout in this year’s primaries rivals 2008 record
So far this year, Republican primaries are experiencing record turnouts, much as voting in Democratic primaries surged in 2008. But the longer-term trend in primary turnout has been down.
-
Strong global support for gender equality, especially among women
Gender equality is among the most widely accepted democratic principles around the world.
-
UN peacekeeping at new highs after post-Cold War surge and decline
The number of UN peacekeeping forces around the world has peaked in recent months after falling off in the late 1990s, following a period of trial and error for UN interventions.
-
Long Supreme Court vacancies used to be more common
If Senate Republicans stick with their declared intention to not consider anyone President Obama might nominate to replace Antonin Scalia, his seat on the Supreme Court likely would remain vacant for a year or more. That would be the longest vacancy on the court for nearly five decades, but by no means the longest ever in U.S. history. In fact, for much of the 19th century it was not uncommon for Supreme Court seats to be unoccupied for months – or, in a few cases, years – at a time.
-
Scalia’s Supreme Court vacancy draws much public interest, unlike past open seats
Such high levels of interest and engagement weren’t common in past Supreme Court nomination battles.
