Top 10 Most Significant Global Socio-Political Events of 2017

The most notable event in the Top 10 Most Significant Global Socio-Political Events of 2017 is Donald Trump officially assuming office and the power transition in the U.S. After winning against Hillary Clinton in the late 2016 election, Donald Trump officially became the President of the United States on January 20, 2017.With policies emphasizing populism, such as tightening immigration laws, building a wall with Mexico, repealing Obamacare, withdrawing from TPP and COP, condemning China's trade..., Donald Trump embarked on his 'Make America Great Again' campaign with numerous new policies in his first year in office. Alongside Donald Trump's victory, the Republican Party also secured many victories in the Senate race, resulting in a power shift as both the presidency and the majority of Senate seats went to the Republicans. Just one year after Donald Trump assumed office, there were significant changes in key positions within the White House: Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, Press Secretary Sean Spicer, National Security Advisor Michael Flynn all departed.With Donald Trump officially assuming office and the power transition in the U.S., 2017 witnessed the implementation of many controversial policies by the Trump administration, most notably the enforcement of immigration deportation laws; the U.S. withdrawal from TPP and COP 21, as well as the recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the departure point for the U.S. embassy in Israel.

Emerging as a rising powerhouse and dubbed a formidable rival to the U.S. in terms of economy and politics, the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China with global superpower ambitions is also one of the Top 10 most notable international political and social events in 2017.
The 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China took place from October 18 to 24, with Chinese President Xi Jinping demonstrating the determination to position China as a 'new leader' of the world by affirming they will be 'a large and responsible country.' The 19th Congress also solidified Xi's new position as over 2,300 delegates voted to amend the party's constitution, officially incorporating 'Xi Jinping Thought' into it. The new doctrine titled 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era' will serve as a guiding principle for the Chinese Communist Party in the coming years.Following Xi's outlined roadmap, by 2020, China aims to become a 'relatively prosperous' nation. He predicts that by 2050, the country will be 'proud to stand side by side with countries around the world' and 'become a leading global power.' The plan to achieve these ambitions includes building a military that is 'world-class,' capable of combat and winning wars.

From the beginning of the year until December 15, North Korea conducted a successful nuclear bomb test (its sixth nuclear test) and 23 missile tests, including three tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). According to statistics, under the reign of Kim Jong Un, North Korea has carried out 89 missile tests, far surpassing the 16 during Kim Jong Il's era and 15 under Kim Jong Thae's era.Most recently, on November 29, North Korea successfully tested an intercontinental nuclear missile Hwasong-15. This is considered an intercontinental nuclear missile that can reach over 13,000 km, and at that point, Hwasong-15 could potentially destroy any city in the U.S. as well as allied nations. This escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula to an extreme level. The U.S. responded with numerous joint military exercises with South Korea, and the United Nations imposed comprehensive sanctions on North Korea. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached a critical point, with both the U.S. and North Korea refusing to back down, condemning each other's actions, and being prepared for war.Most recently, on December 22, the U.S. deployed its most advanced aircraft carrier strike group named 'Doomsday.' 'Doomsday' is the world's most advanced E-6B combat aircraft, designed to withstand nuclear radiation and capable of launching nuclear missile warheads. These powerful aircraft serve as airborne command centers, ready for use in the event of a nuclear war. They can launch nuclear weapons from anywhere in the world.The successful nuclear missile test by North Korea and extreme tensions on the Korean Peninsula have put the world on high alert, with the possibility of the most catastrophic nuclear war in history looming at any moment.

In June 2017, the diplomatic crisis in Qatar officially unfolded as a series of Gulf countries led by Arab Saudi severed diplomatic ties with Qatar. These countries included Arab Saudi, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Libya, Maldives, and Jordan. The main reason for the diplomatic crisis in Qatar is believed to be related to Qatar's relationship with Iran.Iran is a nuclear-developing country, considered by many Gulf countries as a regional instability. Qatar's close ties with Iran may have led to the ostracism of the country by other Gulf nations. Gulf nations accused Qatar of supporting terrorism, meddling in their internal affairs, and maintaining relations with Iran.As one of the world's largest oil-producing countries and a key player in the Gulf region, the impact of the diplomatic crisis in Qatar extends beyond its borders, affecting the global stage. This crisis is considered the worst diplomatic turmoil in the Middle East in recent years, an unprecedented 'falling out.' The diplomatic crisis in Qatar has persisted for six months with no signs of resolution.

On December 6, President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decided to move the U.S. embassy from Israel to Jerusalem. This decision escalated tensions in the Jerusalem dispute. Jerusalem, a sacred city for a thousand years, is a hotbed of conflict involving the three major religions in the world: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The Jerusalem conflict was a primary cause of medieval wars in Europe. Currently, Jerusalem is at the center of the ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine, resulting in frequent and violent conflicts in recent years.World leaders fear that the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital could derail the Middle East peace process. Many are concerned that the White House decision may trigger violence in the Middle East. Numerous countries worldwide, especially influential Muslim nations like the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Arab countries, are opposing the U.S. decision, while many close U.S. allies also do not support this move.Since December 6, protests by Palestinians against the decision have led to clashes with Israeli security forces almost daily. According to AFP, the violence has claimed the lives of at least 12 Palestinians and left more than 3,700 injured.

In recent years, Brexit - the event of the UK leaving the European Union (EU) - has been one of the most noteworthy political developments. The Brexit process started in 2016 when, through a referendum, the United Kingdom decided to leave the EU under Article 50 of the agreement. The UK's departure from the EU faced numerous challenges as the two sides struggled to reach a consensus. However, on December 8, 2017, the UK and EU successfully reached a historic agreement on Brexit. This agreement also paves the way for the negotiations of the second phase of Brexit.According to AFP, the UK agreed to pay a Brexit bill of approximately 45-55 billion euros and ensured that the rights of around three million Europeans living and working in the UK would not be affected by Brexit. The agreement reached on December 8 is considered a historic milestone for both the United Kingdom and the EU. The implementation of the agreement is set to be completed by March 29, 2018. The negotiation results will have significant implications for the future of both the UK and the EU.

Amidst a series of worrisome and concerning global news, in the Top 10 most significant global political and social events of 2017, there is still uplifting news— the autonomous state of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) has been eradicated in the last stronghold of Raqqa and Mosul.On December 6, the Russian Ministry of Defense declared that Syria had successfully defeated ISIS after six years of intense conflict. Syria was completely liberated from ISIS after the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) eliminated ISIS in Raqqa - the largest stronghold of ISIS in October. Furthermore, by December, the Syrian state, supported by Russia, also exterminated ISIS in the last stronghold of Mosul.This is a significant victory in the Middle East against radical Islamic extremism and terrorism. However, both Russia and the US believe that this is not the ultimate end of ISIS, as many militants have escaped from Iraq and Syria. Additionally, ISIS is seeking opportunities for resurgence in Islamic countries in the Southeast Asian region.

After the horrific terrorist attacks in Europe in 2015 and 2016, in 2017, the situation of terrorism continued to escalate in the United States and Europe.On January 1, 2017, a Uzbekistan gunman affiliated with a terrorist group massacred 39 tourists, mostly from the Arab region, in the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, right on the first day of the new year.On March 22, 2017, five people died after a man drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, London, UK. The assailant fatally stabbed a police officer outside the parliament building before being shot dead by the police.On April 3, 2017, a group linked to al-Qaeda planted a bomb on the subway in St. Petersburg, Russia. The attack resulted in 5 casualties.On April 7, 2017, a terrorist drove a stolen truck into a crowd shopping in a bustling supermarket area in Stockholm, Sweden, killing 5 people. The perpetrator, an Uzbekistan national, carried out the attack after being denied a residence permit by the authorities.On May 22, 2017, a bombing at a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester, UK, left 22 people dead. IS claimed responsibility for the attack.On June 3, 2017, IS continued its terror spree as a car rammed into a crowd on London Bridge, UK. Subsequently, three terrorists jumped out of the vehicle and attacked pedestrians with knives. Eight people died, and 50 were injured in this terror incident. The suspects were shot dead by the police.On October 31, 2017, in Manhattan, New York, USA, a pickup truck plowed into pedestrians, resulting in 8 deaths and 10 injuries.On December 11, 2017, another bombing took place at a subway station in New York. Fortunately, the police apprehended the suspect, and the explosion caused no casualties.

Since 2016, Venezuela has been plunging into a crisis, and the political and economic turmoil in Venezuela intensified in 2017 as the nation officially defaulted. S&P Global Ratings revealed that Venezuela's debt repayment deadline ended in October. The default announcement came after a meeting yesterday between government officials of Venezuela and creditors in the capital, Caracas. Venezuela's bolivar is facing a record depreciation, with 1 USD exchanging for 55,200 bolivars. This number was only 3,200 bolivars at the beginning of the year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also predicts inflation here to rise to 650% this year and 2,300% in 2018. The economic and living conditions in Venezuela are becoming extremely challenging. The economic crisis has forced many families, both poor and wealthy, into difficult choices, causing daily anxiety. As the world's largest oil-exporting nation, the political and economic turmoil in Venezuela also significantly impacts the global political and economic landscape.

The final event in the Top 10 most significant political and social events of 2017 is an economic one. In 2017, Bitcoin truly became a frenzy, surging 20 times in a year, continuously setting new highs every hour. Bitcoin was quietly created on the Internet in 2009, amidst the global economic crisis, but it only exploded this year.From April, Bitcoin received a significant boost as Japan accepted the use of Bitcoin as a payment tool. Shortly after, Russia also announced potential recognition of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in 2018, to combat money laundering. This news helped Bitcoin's price increase significantly, continuously breaking records shortly afterward. From the second half of November, Bitcoin's price began to soar, partly due to the high interest of investors during Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The price consecutively surpassed $9,000, $10,000, $11,000, and $12,000 in just over a week.From an initial value of just under $1,000 per coin on January 1st, the price of this digital currency at one point reached nearly $20,000. Many people became millionaires, even billionaires, this year, thanks to owning Bitcoin. This phenomenon created a Bitcoin virtual currency frenzy in the global business and investment community.However, many are concerned about the risks of investing in Bitcoin. Famous Bitcoin millionaire Grant Sabatier believes that the Bitcoin virtual currency frenzy has caused the value of this digital currency to rise rapidly and this is a bubble. Even as the price of Bitcoin is still rising, Grant Sabatier advised people not to invest more than 1% of their assets in Bitcoin. Both JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and investment legend Warren Buffett also expressed doubts about this virtual currency.In late November, early December, the two largest Bitcoin exchanges, Coinbase and Gemini, experienced outages, marking the Bitcoin virtual currency's precipitous decline. Bitcoin continuously plummeted, at times losing thousands of dollars per hour. After reaching a record high of nearly $20,000 on December 17th, on December 22nd, the value of Bitcoin dropped to $10,400, a decrease of more than 44% compared to the peak achieved just one week earlier.In just the past year, the value of Bitcoin has increased by over 1000%. The sharp decline in the value of this virtual currency in late 2017 may make many investors seriously reconsider the risks of Bitcoin as well as other cryptocurrencies.