WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE YEAR AHEAD Trump, Brexit and a more conservative world

Will this year be as eventful and tumultuous as 2016? We asked experts to look into their crystal ball

BREXIT. Donald Trump winning the US presidential race. President Jacob Zuma facing open rebellion from within the ranks of his own party. A year ago few would have predicted the dramatic world events of 2016.

“It was a watershed year,” says Professor André Duvenhage, a political scientist at North-West University.

And in between all this there’s a crippling drought gripping most of South Africa, the growing threat of nuclear war and speculation that robots might soon take our jobs.

So what does the future hold? We talked to the experts to find out what changes might be in store over the next 12 months. Donald Trump’s surprising election as America’s president is symptomatic of a specific spirit that’s emerged in world politics, Professor Duvenhage says.

“If you look further than Trump at the British referendum – in which the majority voted in favour of Brexit, meaning that Britain will leave the European Union (EU) – and at France, the Netherlands, Austria and Scandinavia you see a strong swing to the right,” he explains.

In Britain the Labour Party is a shadow of its former self and the Conservative Party’s “new Iron Lady”, Theresa May, is in control. She’s in favour of stricter immigration measures and a more advantageous relationship with Europe after her country leaves the EU. But compared to right-wing politicians who’ve won ground in Europe she’s moderate.

In the Netherlands, which will hold elections in March, the Freedom Party’s Geert Wilders wants to close mosques and the country’s borders, and say goodbye to the Euro currency. According to surveys, he’s among the three most popular Dutch politicians.

In France, Marine le Pen of the conservative National Front – which is against the EU, the Euro and immigrants – is expected to fare well in the elections scheduled for May.

Meanwhile centrist German chancellor Angela Merkel’s accommodating attitude to Syrian refugees has come under fire. Many of German citizens are worried about the political, social and economic implications of her lenient immigration policies.

And in America Trump is due to be inaugurated as president on 20 January. With his Republican Party clearly in control of Congress there’s speculation his first months in office will be characterised by many conservative policy shifts.

“The Obama legacy is already vanishing,” Professor Duvenhage says.

Trump has indicated he thinks America’s nuclear agreement with Iran was a big mistake, and has hinted he could scrap trade agreements he feels are harming his country.

Professor Duvenhage points out that despite all this American markets “actually reacted well to Trump, with a stronger dollar”.

But if Trump implements protectionist policies it could be a threat to the world economy. For example, if he starts a trade war with China by placing high import tariffs on its goods, an international economic downswing would be a strong possibility.

Trump was so vocal in his talk about building walls that he’s likely to take some sort of action to curb immigration. Foreign observers predict that America will become a less welcoming nation. The same applies to Britain and a number of European countries.

With his brash, outspoken approach Trump might set a new tone. Foreign observers fear racist and sexist attitudes will be more freely expressed in America.