Political unrest is a broad term that encompasses protest, civil disturbances and other forms of organised resistance. Inequality, societal pressures and corruption are common causes of protest and unrest. When the state is seen as repressing groups rather than reforming, protests may turn violent. This can be exacerbated by the onset of climate change and resource scarcity. Rapid economic and cultural changes can also elicit widespread discontent. This is often exploited by demagogues and nationalists for their own gains.
The global rise of inequality and the skewed distribution of wealth foster grievances and anger among citizens. This insecurity leads to a lack of faith in government. Many governments respond to the heightened risk of political instability by creating or strengthening institutional channels for citizen feedback and demands.
Nevertheless, a growing number of people lack confidence in these institutions and resort to disruptive forms of collective action. They feel that the government is failing to address their concerns and that it does not care about their plight.
This explains why political violence is rising. Three factors contribute to this phenomenon: polarization convinces some that it is acceptable to use violence to keep opponents out of power; extreme political parties normalise polarisation and violence, drawing in more disillusioned supporters; and democratically disillusioned citizens take matters into their own hands. Against this backdrop, we need to reduce the incentives for political unrest and promote civic activism that emphasises nonviolence. This will require that leaders prioritize fairness and equality, governments and politicians support the rule of law and accountability, and policing is impartial and based on respect for human rights.
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