Why in the News?
Sushila Karki was appointed as interim Prime Minister of Nepal until 2026 elections after the fall of the government due to "Gen Z protest" in Nepal.
Reasons for Gen Z protests in Nepal
- Nationwide Ban on Social Media Platforms: Government suspension of 26 major social media platforms (WhatsApp, Instagram etc.) was widely seen as an attempt to curb freedom of expression and violate citizens' fundamental rights.
- Corruption and Lack of Accountability: Entrenched corruption, high-profile scams, and lack of progress on legal reforms led to public mistrust.
- Viral social media posts highlighted gap between struggling ordinary youth and luxurious lifestyles of children of political leaders.
- Other reasons: Extreme State Response; Youth Bulge as Nepal's 21% population is between (15–24 years), Inspirations from Global Youth Movements such as Bangladesh, history of Political protests such as Jana Andolan in 1990 and 2006 etc.
The Gen Z protests highlighted the changing nature of protests and role played by young population.
Unique Characteristics of Youth protests
- Decentralized & Leaderless: "Be Water" strategy flexibility and adaptability without fixed leaders.
- E.g., Hong Kong protests (2019) where absence of central leadership made it hard for authorities to dismantle the movement.
- Technology & Digital means: Use of encrypted apps (Telegram, Signal), VPNs, and online anonymity tools to bypass surveillance.
- E.g., Myanmar youth activists using VPNs after military banned social media during 2021 coup.
- Social Media Mobilization: Creating cross-national solidarity through viral hashtags, memes, and influencers to amplify causes.
- E.g., MilkTeaAlliance (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Myanmar.) ArabSpring (Tunisia, Egypt, 2011).
- Hybrid Tactics: E.g., in Hong Kong protesters used online forums for planning and offline "Lennon Walls" for physical expression.
- Youth-Centric & Student Driven: Gen Z sees themselves as change agents, more willing to confront authority compared to older generations.
- E.g., Thai student-led protests for monarchy reform (2020).
- Intersectional Issues: E.g., FridaysForFuture for climate change, Iranian Gen Z women leading "Women, Life, and Freedom" protests (2022) etc.
- Unconventional & Symbolic Protest Styles: Cultural Hybridization (use of international songs, art), Silent protests, blank placards, flash mobs, viral dance challenges etc.
- E.g., Blank paper protests in China for freedom of speech (2022).
- Short-Lived but High-Impact Waves: E.g., sudden flare-ups in Sri Lanka's "Aragalaya" movement (2022) for short duration.
Role of youth in civilian protests
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Way forward
- Youth-Centred Economic Policy: E.g. support entrepreneurship, vocational training, and skill development.
- E.g. in, Medellín (Colombia) library parks, Ruta N (innovation hub) turned youth away from crime to catalyst of growth.
- Actively engage youth in policy making: Meaningful participation can channel young aspirations constructively, preventing alienation and ensuring social cohesion and stability.
- Broadening Urban Resilience: E.g., Cape Town's Resilience Strategy, by integrating youth unemployment and social vulnerability into its resilience agenda, through community safety programmes, and civic participation platforms in poorer neighborhoods.
- Responsive Governance: Leveraging Digital Platforms effectively by using social media for dialogue, grievance redressal and policy outreach while countering misinformation and enabling civic engagement.
- Soft Power & Community Engagement: Promote civic education, volunteerism, cultural programmes to foster belonging by engaging youth in climate action, SDGs, local problem-solving.
Conclusion
"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest"- (Elie Wiesel). Gen Z protests symbolize similar civic activism challenging authority, amplifying marginalized voices, and reshaping democratic participation.
