Gen Z’s challenge

Amidst the euphoric celebration of youth power, a point of contemplation would be how far such violent churnings are capable of ushering in a new era of equality, a new system of democratic and accountable governance? Unfortunately, history speaks otherwise

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The recent wave of youth-led protests across South Asia, particularly in Nepal, preceded by similar upheavals in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, characterized by increasing violence, looting, and vandalism is a wake-up call for other regional states. Gen Z's spontaneous outburst against corrupt regimes, against authoritarianism, nepotism and brutal state repression has been fuelled by their frustrations about the nonperforming regimes and their anxiety about a bleak future.

While some sections of civil society in South Asia and significant segments of international media have hailed these outbursts as fervent expressions of the revolutionary zeal of Gen Z, others have lamented the democracy deficit in South Asia, and unfortunate failure of postcolonial sociopolitical orders of the region to adequately respond to the "revolution of rising expectations,' a concept popularised by Harlan Cleveland, an American social scientist who engaged in critiquing third world politics in the 1950s.

Some optimists are of the view that this wave of Gen Z led protests would spread across South Asia as the Arab Spring rolled across the Arab world. The shift in the region would create new opportunities for collaboration, and emerging young leaders are likely to be more supportive of democracy, development, and cooperation. Additionally, altering the status quo would lead to favourable outcomes, allowing South Asia to become more interconnected, prosperous, and peaceful. One finds the echo of Tagore's thought in their proposition, 'Ore nabin, ore amar kancha, adhmarader gha mere tui bancha', (O young bloods, strike hard and bring to life the people in stupor).

However, amidst this euphoric celebration of youth power, a point of contemplation would be how far such violent churnings are capable of ushering in a new era of equality, a new system of democratic and accountable governance? Unfortunately, history speaks otherwise.