Political unrest refers to a period of social and political instability characterized by protests, strikes, violence and other forms of civil disobedience. It can result from a range of factors, including corruption, inequality, authoritarianism and political repression. These factors undermine people’s quality of life and their faith in the government, triggering a sense of disaffection that can fuel protests or resistance movements.
A lack of economic opportunity drives a growing number of people to feel disenfranchised by their governments. This, in turn, creates a fertile ground for dissent, as people demand that the government take action to improve their lives. Inequality also drives political polarisation, which in turn enables extremists to manipulate people’s grievances through identity politics.
Corruption and a general lack of trust in government institutions can also lead to political unrest, as citizens are more likely to believe that their government is taking advantage of them. Similarly, movements for racial and social justice often have peaceful goals but can become focal points of political unrest when governmental abuses trigger disaffection.
Civil unrest destabilizes economies and causes job losses, as businesses reduce production, slow hiring or layoff employees. It can also affect supply chains, as businesses rely on a reliable network of suppliers or customers. Moreover, international trade can be disrupted as other countries avoid or limit their investments in a country with political instability. This can lead to further economic decline. Measuring political unrest is challenging, but the IMF’s Reported Social Unrest Index measures spikes in media mentions of words associated with unrest across 130 countries.