Young adults in Asia rallying for change: Will their efforts ignite significant transformation?
In recent years, youth-led movements have emerged across Asia, challenging authoritarian regimes and demanding reforms. These movements, reminiscent of the Arab Spring in the Middle East, are driven by widespread frustration and discontent over corruption, economic hardship, and misgovernance.
In Nepal, musician Rajat Das Shrestha, a prominent figure of the Gen Z movement, has led youth and student protests against corruption and poor economic conditions. These protests contributed to political upheaval, resulting in the toppling of the government of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli last week. Shrestha believes the root causes of the unrest in Asia, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, are the same: corruption and an authoritarian mindset of governments.
Similar movements have emerged in Bangladesh, where student-led mass protests in July-August 2024 drew the curtain on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule and forced her to flee to neighboring India. In Sri Lanka, economic turmoil led to the ouster of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Indonesia, despite recent protests, has managed to preserve its existing system without systemic upheaval. However, protests persist despite tight security measures, with social digital platforms compounding the impact of the protests on the streets and providing outlets for non-traditional protest leaders to emerge, such as rappers and hackers. President Prabowo Subianto's administration barely managed to hold on, scrambling to meet youth demands by firing ministers and rolling back the perks.
Experts note that the shift in Asia has made centralized control over youth nearly impossible, as younger generations are not interested in being led by just one charismatic figure. Instead, they seek a generational shift, extending to Gen Alphas and Gen Betas. Shrestha shares this belief, stating that governments can fall when the youth rise.
However, the path to change is not without challenges. Bangladesh, for instance, is in a precarious position, caught between sweeping reforms and democratic elections, risking a slide into deeper chaos. Hossain, a GIGA expert, is cautiously optimistic about what comes next for Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for institutionalization of broader protest demands for lasting change.
Social media plays a powerful role in spreading discontent and facilitating youth-led demonstrations in Asia. These platforms provide a platform for young people to voice their frustrations and organise protests, contributing to the growing wave of political transformations across the region.
As these movements continue to gain momentum, experts liken the current political transformations in Asia to the Arab Spring, a series of mass protests in the Middle East and North Africa in the early 2010s. Shrestha expects similar events to happen in other countries in the region if rulers continue to ignore the dreams and frustrations of young people.
In conclusion, the youth-led movements across Asia are a testament to the power of youth and their determination to demand change. These movements, driven by the desire for a corruption-free, economically stable, and democratic society, are reshaping the political landscape of Asia and heralding a new era of political activism.
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