Political unrest — protests, strikes, and violent confrontations with police or other government institutions — undermines people’s quality of life and faith in their government. It’s driven by a combination of factors: economic inequality, climate change, globalisation, corruption, and political oppression. These drivers are often interlinked and can act as force multipliers for each other.
They are also stoked by identity politics that exploit people’s fears, frustrations, and divisions. In the United States, for example, racial tensions have fuelled a resurgence of white nationalist groups, while in India rising tensions have prompted violent clashes between different religious communities.
In addition to this, a growing number of people are feeling disillusioned by the perceived failures of their governments and are looking elsewhere for alternatives. Social justice movements – focusing on injustice, abuse or discrimination – are often the driving force behind these protests. They often start out with peaceful aims, but can turn violent in response to perceived government oppression or corruption.
And finally, rising prices for food and fuel can be a major trigger for protests. The risk of political unrest is currently lower than it was during the pandemic, but as governments ease restrictions and people’s concerns about COVID-19 subside, and prices continue to increase, the potential for more widespread civil disorder could increase. This would be a serious setback to the recovery of the global economy. It would also pose a threat to public safety and could be disruptive to the delivery of essential public services.
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