Unless your name is Taylor Swift, chances are 2017 wasn't the best year for you. The news cycle was relentless with stories about illegal immigration crackdowns, fractures within the Republican Party, natural storms taking lives, the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, and that's only within the U.S. Across the world we saw contentious elections, terrorist attacks, and wars being fought.
It could be argued that 2017 was the year where the U.S. took a back seat on the world stage. This could be attributed to a number of things: President Trump's America-centric attitude, a number of international incidents, the U.S. no longer being regarded as a global power, etc. The last one may be the key though: under Trump, the U.S. has seen its global influence wane. The new dominant player in the world scene: China. That's why our 2017 Person of the Year is Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Xi became Chinese president in 2012 and with no apparent heir, is seemingly ready to rule for five more. The leader of the Chinese Communist Party is even mentioned in the Chinese constitution. The "Xi Jinping Thought" allows any challenge to the president to be viewed as a threat to the ruling party.
In a three-hour long speech on October 18th, Xi declared that China intended to lead the world. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed that sentiment in a private summit after Trump withdrew from the Paris Accord. Xi's words have been backed up by numerous displays of power. After Trump broke precedent and called the Taiwanese President last December, China flew a nuclear bomber over the South China Sea islands. Under Xi, China has increased its disputed presence in the aforementioned sea while staying very involved in Taiwanese and Hong Kong politics.
On the domestic side, Xi has tackled issues such as corruption, freedom of speech, and internet censorship. But his biggest impact has arguably been on the economy. Thanks to policies such as reducing pollution and decreasing state-owned industries, China has managed to fight back against its slowing economic growth. China has also funneled billions of dollars into Asia and Africa (which also gives it soft power).
Furthermore, there does not seem to be any sign of Xi slowing down anytime soon. Although he has overseen the arrests of activists and human rights lawyers, Xi is widely believed to enjoy widespread support from his countrymen. There's every reason to believe that Xi will be the most influential and newsworthy person in the world for years to come.
Honorable Mentions:
Emmanuel Macron: Macron was elected president of France in 2017, countering the rising nationalist movement in Europe. The former economic minister has already gone to work revitalizing the French economy thanks to policies such as supporting digital start-ups.
Mohammed bin Salman: The youngest defense minister in the world is also first in line for the Saudi Arabian throne. In November, Prince Mohammed detained four princes, eleven ministers, and many notable entrepreneurs in a supposed corruption crackdown. This move helped consolidate the Prince's power and made sure he was one of the Middle East's most impactful players.
Jeff Bezos- Bezos went from selling books online to selling whatever he wants. Amazon is the world's largest online retailer and keeps on growing. In 2017, Bezos purchased Whole Foods and announced that Amazon was looking to build another headquarters, prompting hundreds of cities to submit proposals.
Kim Jong Un- The North Korean dictator dominated the news cycle in 2017 thanks to his public drawn-out feud with President Trump. This feud of course, was brought on by the dictator's multiple nuclear tests and threats.
Hamdi Ulukaya- It may seem weird to put the CEO of Chobani here, but Ulukaya is well deserving of this spot. The Turk has created hundreds of jobs all across the U.S., including upstate New York and Idaho. Not only has he hired native-born Americans, he has also hired refugees. Ulukaya also founded the Tent Foundation, a group dedicated to helping the world's refugees.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Thanks for reading everyone.
