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1. With over 80 countries, including in the EU, set to hold elections in 2024, the involvement of university students in democratic debate is deemed to be of particular importance. The Times Higher Education podcast, featuring Elizabeth Matto, Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics, and Michael Bruter, Professor of Political Science and European Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), looks at “how to turn university students into engaged citizens – and voters”. They explore voting habits, Generation Z, and student civic engagement. Their discussion is paired with a talk given by Kathryn Sikkink, Professor of Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy Business School. Professor Sikkink explores the reasons for which voting is not only a right, but also a responsibility (Thematic Networks on the IPSAPortal).
2. According to a recent survey of 24 nations conducted by Pew Research Center, public support for authoritarian systems stands at a median of 31%. These systems allow a strong leader to make decisions without interference from parliament or the courts and, in some countries, they involve military rule. Support for at least one of these models ranges from 85% in India to 8% in Sweden. In many countries, individuals on the ideological right are more likely to support authoritarian systems. For instance, South Koreans on the right are nearly twice as likely to support authoritarian systems as those on the left (49% vs. 28%). Similarly, in Germany, 37% of respondents who hold a favourable view of the Alternative for Germany party support non-democratic means of governance. Additionally, people with lower incomes are more likely to support authoritarian systems. For example, 47% of people with incomes below the median in the UK support authoritarian systems (Research Institutes on the IPSAPortal).
3. The AI revolution is driven by advancements in technology and market demand. This continuing saga, which opened with the governance upheaval brought about by OpenAI, will herald the beginning of a new chapter, with Jeff Bezos, Nvidia Corp. and other big tech firms reportedly investing in the development of human-like robots. Already funded by OpenAI and Microsoft, the startup FigureAI is raising approximately $675 million in a funding round. The round includes a $100 million investment from Bezos through his firm Explore Investments LLC, $95 million from Microsoft, and $50 million each from Nvidia and an Amazon.com affiliate. Figure 01 is a new machine designed to perform dangerous tasks deemed unsuitable for humans. Its technology can help alleviate labour shortages, which threaten to disrupt the global job market (Media Sources on the IPSAPortal).
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