The World’s Major Powers Are Led By Men Over 70. How Did It Get Here?
None intend to retreat, and a few pose a threat to international law.
Today is US President Joe Biden’s 80th birthday. Vladimir Putin, the head of the Kremlin, is 70 years old, while Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the newly re-elected president of Brazil, is 77 years old.
In addition, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, is 72 years old. China’s president, Xi Jinping, is the youngest head of state among the world’s superpowers, having only taken office in 2009. Not one intends to recede, and a few pose a threat to the global system.
The fact that individuals in non-democratic nations who assumed power at younger ages altered constitutions and laws to allow them to hold office indefinitely is one of the causes of gerontocracy.
While Xi secured unrestricted years of power in China, Putin governed Russia without interruption for 23 years.
Older leaders in democracies build on decades of political capital and relationships. Part of what made Biden a successful presidential candidate was persuading Americans that his eight years as vice president and thirty-six years as a senator would benefit the United States.
Similar to Biden, senior leaders frequently pledge consistency and continuity. In a world full of overwhelming issues, such as pandemics, inflation, and climate change, voters tend to view capable leaders — especially those from major powers — as having experience. Prominent political figures contend that they are in the best position to handle the challenges that lie ahead.
Difficulties that novices encounter
Liz Truss’s downfall — she led Britain as prime minister for a mere 44 days this year — illustrates how swiftly and violently the political and business worlds may turn against a young leader.
Unexpectedly, the youngest leaders are found in Western Europe, the region with the highest percentage of senior residents (more than a fifth of Western Europeans are over 65).
Europe’s aging population and young leadership are partly caused by the unique policies of the many nations on the continent.
Party regulations in certain jurisdictions, like Britain, make it comparatively simple to remove leaders. Election results fluctuate more and are less predictable in such circumstances. Italy has had four prime ministers in the last six years, compared to five for Britain.
The majority of world leaders are male. The few women who have recently ascended to the highest position in politics did it at an early stage of their careers. Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s new prime minister, is 45 years old, whereas Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand, is 42. Finland’s prime minister, Sanna Marin, will turn 37 in a little while.
We work longer
People are living longer, in better health, and, for the most part, working longer hours than at any other point in human history. Although this is fantastic news, there are worries over the more senior and older leaders.
It’s possible that they don’t communicate with the younger generations they are supposed to represent. It’s possible that political solutions from decades ago won’t work for them today or in the future. Their perspectives and attitudes may become rigid or conservative.
Whether in a democracy or an authoritarian regime, a country’s political life is most hazardous during the transition from one leader to the next. Long-standing conventions regarding the handover of power may be swiftly overturned, even in “the world’s greatest democracy,” as demonstrated by the riots that broke out on Capitol Hill in the latter days of Donald Trump’s infamous administration.
However, transitions are supposed to be significantly more challenging when one individual rules the public sphere of a country for a considerable amount of time.
According to Professor Klassen, this is especially concerning in a big, powerful nation since domestic instability can have swift, dramatic, and unpredictably occurring effects outside. The journal stated that long-term leaders seldom create a succession plan, if only because doing so puts their hold on power in jeopardy.
However the elderly leaders of the world’s superpowers can be a real threat to the global order if there is no plan for succession and no strong institutions to facilitate a smooth handover to the next leader.
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