Oxford University Press's
Academic Insights for the Thinking World

Announcing the Place of the Year 2016 shortlist

The year is winding down and we are nearing the end of our search for the Place of the Year. Thank you to everyone who voted for their pick in the longlist. We have narrowed down to the top four, and the results are quite telling–Aleppo, Tristan da Cunha, The Mediterranean Sea, and the UK are all moving on to the shortlist. Each of these places represent something unique about the political, humanitarian, and environmental landscape of 2016. Let’s now revisit the top 4 places and why we are highlighting them in this year. Then, make your voice heard with our Twitter poll.

Aleppo

Aleppo

News from Aleppo in 2016 has been consistently tragic with the Syrian Civil War still raging on. Civilians in Aleppo have been living under a blockade and lack access to basic needs such as electricity and food. The city has been bombarded by Russia and Syria in an effort to quash the Islamic State, though it has been estimated that around half the casualties have been children. A photograph of a young boy in Aleppo, bleeding and covered in ash brought the horror of the Syrian Civil War to the world’s attention. As one candidate for President of the United States demonstrated publicly, many people still are unaware of the situation in Aleppo.

Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha represents so much of what is most fascinating about planet Earth. The most remote inhabited island in the world, Tristan da Cunha is interesting enough with that fact alone. This year, the community of the remotest island began to take steps towards becoming entirely self-sufficient.

The Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea embodies the migrant crisis—record-breaking numbers of people, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, have risked or lost their lives this year while crossing this sea. According to the UN, 3,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea so far this year, making 2016 already the deadliest year on record.

The UK

The UK

The UK made its biggest splash in international news with its vote for the Brexit—the colloquial term for Britain parting ways with the European Union. The results of the vote were something of a shock to the world political and economic stage. David Cameron stepped down as Prime Minister of Great Britain shortly after the decision was made final. The effects of Brexit are felt far beyond European borders.

Images: (1) “Aleppo 03” by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. (2) “Tristan da Cunha, British overseas territory-20March2012” by Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons (3) Refugee escape by Gerd Altmann, Public Domain via Pixabay (4) London by Adam Derewecki, Public Domain via Pixabay Featured image: Globe by Unsplash, Public Domain via Pixabay.

Recent Comments

  1. Gina Swifte

    Pity that you won’t just let us vote. Not everyone uses Twitter or wants so to do.

Comments are closed.