2022 Year in Review

There is no way to neatly package the events of 2022. From the Russian invasion
of Ukraine to femicide in Latin America - 2022 has presented a complex series of
events. All of which this special issue and the team at YDS believe deserve
attention and reflection.
2022 has disrupted and challenged democracy. On 24 February, Russian
aggression against neighbouring Ukraine escalated into a full-scale invasion –
paralysing global relations and representing a profound shift in geopolitics (pg.
1). There was the UK Crisis (pg. 106), Argentina’s IMF loan struggle and the
assassination attempt on Vice President Kirchner (pg. 126), and right-leaning
Netanyahu’s win in the Israel election (pg. 149). In November, rising power
Indonesia successfully hosted the G20 (pg. 65) restoring hope in diplomacy as
world leaders worked together to alleviate global tensions. The much anticipated
meeting between US’ Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping also served to ease
tensions over contested Taiwan and reaffirm future dialogue between the two
superpowers. However, significant efforts are still required to revive and reaffirm
the world’s democracies and hold governments accountable.
2022 saw human rights issues take centre stage. The Roe vs Wade decision
shook the United States and stoked outrage across the globe (p. 7), gender
equality was threatened by South Korea’s new president (p. 20), and navigating
solutions to ongoing insecurity in Africa remain elusive (p. 157). In Australia, we
heard renewed calls for a referendum for a First Nation’s Voice to Parliament - a
welcome change and symbolic gesture that shows change is desired and
possible (p. 39).
2022 also saw a continuation of the climate crisis with the Amazon in Latin
America devastated by illegal deforestation, hurricanes and landslides (p. 120),
severe floods in Pakistan (p. 53), and the adverse environmental effects of
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (p. 76). Renewed explorations of nuclear energy
in Europe (p. 112) left some feeling hopeful. However, the changing balance of
power in the international energy market remains one to watch with eyes on the
Middle East and North Africa’s investigation into alternative energy sources (p.
136). The 27th COP summit hosted by Egypt attempted to energise climate
action efforts yet scepticism persists regarding world leaders’ commitment to
see through their promises.