After a year in which electoral upsets were commonplace and political certainties overturned, it is natural to reflect on the reasons for the unrest.

Undoubtedly there are country-specific reasons for the voter rebellions. But there are also common reasons which transcend national borders. And in essence the fundamental cause of the current popular turmoil across the democratic world is that politicians and their voters no longer agree about what the major issues of the day are, what should be government’s main concern.