Outcry of the young

In the wake of stark economic insecurity, characterised by widespread unemployment, the record youth population across the globe is venting out its ire on multiple related issues

- RICHARD MAHAPATRA

There are waves of protests sweeping across continents, from Asia to Africa to Europe to the Americas. The protesters predominantly are young; and their agendas varied—from regime change to high inflation. When one examines the agendas and the structure of protests worldwide, one broad picture emerges: these protests are informal by leadership and very much issue-based.

In Bangladesh, students staged protests in August to change the political regime; in India, the ongoing protests triggered by a doctor’s rape and murder in Kolkata demand women safety in health facilities; and in Kenya the “Gen Z” forced the government to withdraw new tax proposals.

These protests are not steered by any chosen leadership. Rather, these movements are being fuelled and sustained by various developmental issues and steered by the youths.

This seems obvious at a time when the world by far has the largest youth population in history. The US Agency for International Aid (USAID) estimates that the world is currently home to 2.4 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 29. One can term it as the largest generation ever.