A political unrest is a period of public protest, often involving civil disobedience and/or riots. It is often associated with poverty and poor governance and can lead to a state of emergency or even collapse of the government. Whether the result of conflict, corruption or economic instability, political unrest can be disruptive for local and international communities.
There are many forms of political unrest, from the personal kind, such as an unhappy child resulting in angry public demonstrations to the societal kind, characterized by workers taking to the streets to express their anger at unsafe working conditions or a government’s authoritarian rule. Increasingly, climate change is also a catalyst for protests and civil unrest as it contributes to food shortages (for example the Syrian conflict), water scarcity, droughts, or desertification.
The most common causes of political unrest are economic inequality and corruption. People feel discontented when they feel that the government is not doing enough to address their economic needs. They are also more likely to protest when they see government officials abusing their position for their own gain. This can lead to a loss of trust in the government and further discontent.
Cultural tensions can also erupt into civil unrest, particularly as they are exploited by demagogues and nationalists for their own financial or ideological gain. In the long term, this discontent can also fuel large scale migration as populations leave their homes to seek security and better prospects in other countries.