Welcome to the World in 2004
2004 will be a year for voters. During the year, countries that account for nearly half the world's population (the most ever) will hold nationwide elections.
Monday January 23rd 2012
Predictions 2004
Leaders
Right on in America
George Bush looks the narrow favourite to win the presidential election. Even if he loses, don't expect America to change much, argues John Micklethwait
United States
Still the 50-50 nation
The contest will be close, and the campaign caustic
Americas
Latin America emerges from its gloom
After the storms of the past few years, the delights of political calm and quickening economic recovery
Asia
The billion-person question
Will India, the world's biggest democracy, keep its cool?
Middle East and Africa
Turning the region around
The invasion of Iraq changed just about everything. In 2004 its implications will spread across the Middle East
International
A world without alliances
The Atlantic alliance will have a new secretary-general in 2004. But do alliances like NATO matter any more?
Europe
Bigger, broader, brasher
As it boldly expands from 15 members to 25, the European Union will wrestle with the consequences of its ambitions
Britain
When trust is going, the going gets tough
Can things get any worse for Tony Blair?
Business
The third age of globalisation
Enter the true multinationals
Finance
Get ready for the readjustment
After their rough ride, three big tests for global markets
Science
The smart-dust revolution
Sensors of the world, unite!
Explore past and present World in issues
Every year we make our predictions about the year to come. See where we were right, and where we were wrong
2004
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Most commented
- Will the euro survive 2012 intact?
- Japan's immigration control: Gulag for gaijin
- The Republican nomination: Live-blogging the Republican debate
- Newt Gingrich: Newt and the "food-stamp president"
- Hungary's travails: Budapest vs Brussels
- Charlemagne: And then there was one
- The South Carolina primary: The slog begins
- Taiwan’s elections: It’s all right, Ma
- Israel and Palestine: Toddling to talks about talks
- The Republican nomination: Red-meat delivery
Over the past five days
Most recommended
- Internet regulation: Black ops
- Technological change: The last Kodak moment?
- Newt Gingrich: Newt and the "food-stamp president"
- Daily chart: Winners and losers
- Rioting in Romania: The battle of Bucharest
- Civilian drones: Difference engine: Unblinking eye in the sky
- Japan's immigration control: Gulag for gaijin
- The visible hand
- Mexico's drug war: Working together
- The euro zone crisis: France goes soft-core
Over the past seven days
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