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Seminar on “The Race to the White House: Understanding the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections” Held at EMU with Prof. Dr. Erol Kaymak

A seminar titled “The Race to the White House: Understanding the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections” was held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), jointly organized by the Cyprus Policy Center (CPC) and the Department of Political Science and International Relations. The seminar began with opening remarks delivered by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen, Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations and Director of the CPC, who also introduced the speaker, Prof. Dr. Erol Kaymak.

Prof. Dr. Kaymak provided an in-depth analysis of the two leading candidates in the U.S. presidential race: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. He went on to explain the voting process in detail, highlighting that in 48 states, the candidate who receives the majority of votes wins all the electoral votes of that state. He noted that Maine and Nebraska are the two exceptions, as they use a proportional allocation system.

Kaymak pointed out the divergent predictions regarding the outcome of the election—while national polls lean toward a Harris victory, betting markets seem to favor Trump. He concluded his talk by emphasizing that although the 2024 U.S. presidential election is highly unpredictable, its outcome will have significant implications for U.S. foreign policy.

During the highly interactive seminar, in response to questions from the audience and under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen, Prof. Dr. Kaymak also discussed how the results of the U.S. elections could influence ongoing regional conflicts.