2012: the year of elections. Maybe the Mayans were correct?

China watchers often remind us that the passing the leadership baton in the Communist Party involves a great deal of politics, and this year we have had quite some intense drama already, with Bo Xilai and then Chen Guangcheng.

And, of course, there are the November elections in the US, though sometimes it seems like we are always in an election and campaign mode..

The outcomes of the Chinese and American leadership struggles will have global impacts, yes.  But, these are not the only elections this year with far-reaching implications.  Consider the following list, which is by no means a comprehensive one:

• Russia: Putin continues to rig the system to his advantage.  Wonder how long he can keep behaving like the tsar of Russia.
• France: Early reports indicate that Sarkozy has been defeated by Hollande, and Europe and the rest of the world will have to watch and see how this will affect the Euro crisis, among other issues.
• Israel: Netanyahu calls for early elections, which many analysts see as a kind of referendum on his plans to attack Iran in September/October, ahead of the American elections, if he were to win.
• Egypt: One heck of a confusion in its elections, with protests growing by the day, and the prospect of an elected Islamist government worrying the US.
• And there is Greece, the epicenter of the Euro crisis.

Hmmmmmm .... wake me up in 2013, if the world is still around then :)