Gen Z Rises: Youth-Led Protests Sweep U.S., Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal

Quick Summary

• Nepal witnessed a youth-led uprising in August that resulted in the resignation of its prime Minister and torching of key government offices, signaling public dissatisfaction with political decay.
• the protests were primarily driven by digital campaigns and involved young citizens frustrated by joblessness, corruption, and stagnant leadership.
• A UNICEF report revealed global youth disenchantment with democracy; only 57% of 18-35-year-olds are satisfied compared to 71% in older generations.
• Similar youth uprisings have occured globally, including Sri Lanka (2022), Bangladesh (2024), Kenya (2025), and Indonesia (2025), with grievances on economic hardships, inequality, and systemic issues.
• In India, jobless rates for educated youth stand at 83%, fueling protests over unemployment, socio-economic challenges, and policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act since recent years.
• Thinkers argue that younger generations seek political systems that prioritize jobs and equity but sometimes risk exacerbating instability through violent tactics.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The wave of Gen Z-led uprisings reflects a monumental shift as younger demographics not only voice discontent but also demand accelerated systemic reforms worldwide. While these movements indicate dissatisfaction with entrenched leadership structures – as seen across Nepal or India – they underscore deeper structural issues like unemployment exacerbated by limited economic inclusivity post-pandemic.For India specifically, the parallels are striking; student-led agitations have historically shaped transformative shifts in governance but now confront rising joblessness amid higher educational attainment levels. Such discontent risks fostering distrust toward democratic mechanisms unless addressed through meaningful policy frameworks aiding socio-economic upward mobility for younger citizens.

While youthful activism is essential to reinvigorate democracies like India’s own stable system’s balance ensures societal change doesn’t upend grassroots continuity prematurely unlike visible civic disruptions elsewhere(flaws-counteracted optimism outlook engaging-going Forward)

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