During the month of October, upper school students in the Introduction to Global Studies class dove into the complex world of electoral processes and sustainable development, with an emphasis on understanding different democratic systems worldwide. 

“The goal of the unit was to explore global elections in 2024 and consider the extent to which they are fair and free, what forces may influence these conditions, and how elections function around the world,” said Laura Bowe, King’s Director of Global Education and social science teacher.

Scheduled to coincide with the U.S. election season, the unit introduced students to the dimensions of sustainable development, encouraging a holistic approach to understanding the links between governance and societal well-being.

Students chose different countries to research, exploring electoral frameworks, historical backgrounds, and unique political challenges. The countries of study included Venezuela, Mexico, Bhutan, India, Tunisia, and South Africa – all countries that held or are holding elections in 2024.

“The class is about studying global issues and learning how they affect not only our country but the world as a whole. I chose Portugal because I am currently in the midst of applying for citizenship, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn more about the country and its current issues,” said Linus Grabowski’ 27.

The class welcomed guest speakers who discussed the electoral systems in Singapore and Venezuela, offering firsthand insights into how governance and elections shape the daily lives and opportunities of citizens in these nations. Through these discussions, students learned about contrasting approaches to governance and the impact of each system on civic engagement, non-resident citizen voting, and public trust.

"I learned that no matter how just an electoral system might seem, there are constant external and internal factors that can result in a swayed or unjust election. We learned about the power citizens have regarding elections in some countries and the little power and control citizens from other countries may have," Justina Marque ’27 shared following one of the speaker’s visits.

Camila Pajares ’27 highlighted the impact of governance on citizens' well-being, explaining that "transparency from one's government and leaders is crucial to a high quality of life. In a democracy, it can ensure that the government hears people's voices. A corrupt government can greatly alter the lives of the citizens. It results in poverty, violence, crime, and so much more."

"It’s valuable to have an insider perspective. The tragedies feel less foreign when it’s looked at from a personal rather than purely academic perspective,” said Phoebe Dai ’27.

In one of the sessions, students explored the impact of artificial intelligence on electoral processes, examining how AI can influence voting behavior, election security, and the spread of misinformation. 

Governments “are having trouble regulating it,” Linus said, noting the challenges of self-learning AI in contrast to social media. “This is much harder to regulate because it's like constantly getting better and better and better.”

“Where’s the limit, and when do you stop evolving and advancing it? When does that become dangerous, as we're seeing? How do you determine what's fake or not?” asked Lucas Pignotti Phillips '27.

Throughout this unit, students gained unique perspectives from one another’s research. They gained a nuanced understanding of electoral systems worldwide and developed a broader perspective on democracy and informed civic participation — an especially powerful lesson as they observed their own country's electoral process unfold.