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A new wave of global protests is spreading from andes till HimalayaIt is being driven by a powerful mix of generational resentment and the anger of young people.
This was clearly illustrated in madagascarWhere President Andrey Rajoelina was ousted from power and the country after a military coup. This culminated in weeks of demonstrations led by youth activists who identified themselves as “Gen Z Madagascar.”
expressed anger at the political establishment in Indian Ocean Similar recent uprisings echo across the world, including in the island nation NepalThe philippines, Indonesia, kenya, peruAnd moroccoThese movements, although often triggered by specific grievances, are based on long-running issues such as rising inequality, economic uncertainty, and widespread corruption and nepotism of leaders.
Importantly, these demonstrations share a common thread: they are largely leaderless and composed primarily of young individuals who brand themselves as “Gen Z.” Broadly defined as those born between 1996 and 2010, this generation is unique as the first generation to fully mature within the Internet age.
“What connects these youth-led protests is a shared feeling that traditional political systems are not responsive to the concerns of their generation, whether it’s corruption, climate change, or economic inequality. Protests become the logical outlet when institutional channels feel blocked,” said Sam Nadel, director of the Social Change Lab, a UK-based nonprofit that researches protests and social movements. Is.
Although their specific demands vary, most of these protests have been caused by government overreach or neglect. Some people have also faced harsh treatment and brutal repression by security forces.
In moroccoA leaderless group called Gen Z 212 – named after Morocco’s dialing code – has taken to the streets to demand better public services and increased spending on health and education. In Peru, protests over the pension law turned into broader demands, including action to tackle growing insecurity and widespread corruption in the government. In IndonesiaDeadly protests have erupted over MPs’ allowances and cost of living, forcing the president to replace key economic and security ministers.
The most widely recognized movement, dubbed the “Gen Z” protest, was a deadly rebellion Nepal Which culminated in the resignation of the Prime Minister in September. the protesters Took inspiration from successful anti-government movements elsewhere South Asia , Sri Lanka and in 2022 bangladesh In 2024 – which causes the current regime to be ousted from power.
In Madagascar, in turn, protesters say they were particularly inspired by the movements in Nepal. Sri Lanka,
The protests began against routine water and electricity cuts but soon turned into widespread discontent, as demonstrators demanded the president and other ministers step down. On Wednesday, Madagascar’s military coup leader said he was “taking over the office of president.”
uniting behind the manga pirate flag
In many countries, a unique pop culture symbol has emerged: a black flag featuring a smiling skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat. the flag comes from a cult Japani Manga and anime series called “One Piece” which follows a crew of pirates who take on corrupt governments.
In Nepal, protesters hung the same flag over the gates of Singha Durbar, the seat of the Nepali government, and ministries, many of which were set on fire in protests. It was also hoisted by crowds in Indonesia, the Philippines, Morocco and Madagascar.
Last week in the capital of Peru, LimaDavid Tafur, a 27-year-old electrician, stood with the same flag in San Martín Square, now the stage of weekly protests.
“We are fighting the same fight – against corrupt officials, who in our case are also murderers,” he said, recalling that the government of President Dina Bolwart remains in power through December 2022, despite more than 500 protests and the death of 50 civilians.
“In my case, it is outrage over abuse of power, corruption, deaths,” Tafur said, referring to a sharp increase in murders and extortion in the South American country since 2017, as new laws have weakened efforts to fight crime.
Boluaert had been under investigation for several months on various charges, including bribery and involvement in the deadly crackdown on protesters in 2022. Last week he was replaced by interim President Jose Jerry.
Tafur said this was not enough.
“The President is an ally of the Congress and he has to go,” he said.
Many significant protests in the past, such as Occupy Wall Street in 2011, the Arab Spring between 2010 and 2012, and the 2014 Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong, have been led by young people. While they also used the Internet and social media for mass mobilization, “Gen Z” protesters are taking it to another level.
“Digital platforms are powerful tools for sharing information and building connections, but the most effective movements often combine digital mobilization with traditional in-person organizing, as we’ve seen in these recent protests,” said Social Change Lab’s Nadel.
Days before deadly protests began in Nepal, the government announced a ban on most social media platforms for not following registration deadlines. Many young Nepalese saw this as an attempt to silence them and began accessing social media sites through virtual private networks to avoid detection.
Over the next few days, he used TikTok, Instagram and Instagram to highlight the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, highlight the disparities between Nepal’s rich and poor, and announce planned rallies and locations. Later, some of them also used gaming chat platforms discord To suggest who should be nominated as the interim leader for the country.
Protester Yujan Rajbhandari said, “Whatever movement happens, whether it is against corruption or injustice, it spreads through digital media. The same happened in Nepal. The changes that took place after the Gen Z protests in Nepal spread globally through digital platforms, influencing other countries as well.”
He said that the protests in Nepal have awakened not only the youth but also other generations.
“We realized that we are global citizens and the digital space connects us all and plays a powerful role around the world,” Rajbhandari said.