Our 'Elections that Shook the World' series leads Matt Davis to interview two leading academics who were part of the changes that brought democracy to South Africa in 1994. Professor Nancy Jacobs of Brown University in the United States. She is an historian of South Africa and of colonial Africa and her power in obscure corners including a mysterious and forgotten diplomatic initiative. She was a United Nations election monitor in 1994 for the first election.

Matt also interviews Professor Wilmot James was an Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town and at the University of the Witwatersrand today.

James is currently also a professor at Brown University. He was also a Member of the South African parliament for the Western Cape for the opposition Democratic Alliance.

Dr. James advised the Office of President Nelson Mandela's Director-General Jakes Gerwel and on constitutional rights education for coloured (mixed descent) communities torn between accepting majority rule and worrying about minority interests.

Elections that ‘Shook the World’ – Mandela’s Election in South Africa 1994

Following the collapse of Communism in the Eastern Bloc, our podcast team looks at the changes in the former Yugoslavia, how it separated into its ethnic parts leading eventually to civil war in the 1990s.

Matt Davis interviews Dr. Florian Bieber, the Professor of Southeast European History and Politics at the University of Graz, concerning the changes that were brought about and how they shook the world.

Elections that ‘Shook the World’ – Milošević's Election in Yugoslavia 1990

Over the coming weeks, our new presenter, James Heaton, will be hosting a series of "after dark" podcast episodes concerning fictional, TV and other examples of elections that have shaped opinions and given insight to viewers about the way elections are run and how they fit into our culture.

From Richard Hannay's speech to a 1910s audience in The Thirty-Nine Steps, to Dunny-on-the-Wold, a pocket borough by-election in 19th century England and the epic battle for the new MP for Broughty Ferry, this series promises to be one of the most exciting ever produced by the Observations Podcast.

Coming Soon: Fictional Elections - The After Dark Series

Matt Davis interviews Dr. Sebastián Hurtado Torres, from Universidad San Sebastián about the election in 1970 of Salvador Allende, to become the first Socialist leader of his country. His election saw international support and condemnation in equal measure with support for his election being divided along the lines of the Cold War.

In this interview, Professor Torres explains the impacts in Chile, in Latin America, and globally and how the world reacted. By 1973, Allende was overthrown by a military coup following this election that shook the world.

Elections that 'Shook the World': Allende’s Election in Chile 1970

On 29th August 2025, Samoa votes in its first general election since 2021. In this episode of The Observations Podcast Matt Davis our Special Internation Election Editor interviews Dr. Iati Iati of the University of Victoria in Wellington (New Zealand). The election will see contest between traditional parties and newer parties that have emerged over the past few years.

This is the second in our series of elections overseas, drawing upon the expertise of global academics to make deep dives into elections that don’t make the headlines around the world.

International Election Special: Samoa 2025

Matt Davis will be interviewing Dr. Iati Iati about the forthcoming Samoan General Election. Dr. Iati, an expert in Samoan elections, will be speaking from Wellington New Zealand.

Samoa: General Election Special Coming This Tuesday

Possibly one of the most controversial by-elections in British political history occurred in 1981 when Bobby Sands, an imprisoned IRA terrorist, was elected to the Westminster Parliament despite being imprisoned at the time.
This interview with Dr. Peter McLoughlin of Queen’s University Belfast, reader at “The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice”, tells the podcast all about the context in which the by-election takes place, how the election worked, as Sands was in prison at the time, and how his election was received within the UK and around the world.
Sands’ election and term as an MP was short-lived. His death, whilst on hunger strike in the H-Block Maze Prison (Long Kesh Detention Centre), happened on May 5th 1981, meaning his term as MP was only 26 days.


Famous By-Elections: Bobby Sands and Fermanagh & South Tyrone 1981

In our new season of Elections that Shook the World, Matt Davis interviews international experts and participants in some of the elections that made history. From 1970s South America, 1980s Europe and referendums that threatened to change the course of nations, the Observations Podcast delves into famous elections around the world.

Coming Soon: Elections that Shook the World Series 1

Winner of the 2006 Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, Willie Rennie, is interviewed by Matt Davis. The seat, previously held by Labour, did not hold out much prospect for the Liberal Democrats. The party was in the midst of a challenging period with the previous leader, Charles Kennedy, who had recently resigned, and the campaign to replace him which had seen further challenges to the party. The seat was also next door to the constituency of future Prime Minister Gordon Brown, so the prospects were not favourable. Nonetheless the party gained the seat against the odds. This interview asks why.

Famous By-elections: Willie Rennie and Dunfermline & West Fife 2006

Democracy Volunteers are deploying observers ot the Netherlands for their presidential election in October 2025. Find out more at democracyvolunteers.org

Are You Going to Join Us in The Nederlands?

The Observations Podcast, brought to you by the Democracy Volunteers team, brings you insightful coverage of elections—past, present, local, national, and international. Our team of experts dives into the stories behind the ballots, speaking with candidates, campaigners, organisers and winners to uncover the narratives you won’t hear anywhere else.

Tune in for a deeper look at the elections that shape our world. Our expert interviewers: TV presenter Edd Charlton, ITV and BBC journalist Alex Iszatt and researcher Matt Davis bring their skills to our “Observations” podcast which seeks to inform our listeners to the world of elections and elections observation.

We are nonpartisan and so is it. We interview behind elections and democracy. Subscribe today or just listen in.

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