Gen Z and fighting corruption
For many years there have been anti-corruption protests worldwide and they have been led by the youth. The Associated Press, as well as other news outlets, has reported on this focusing on the most recent ones and they noted that “[t]he rage against the political establishment in the Indian Ocean island country mirrors other recent protests across the world, in countries like Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru and Morocco. These protests have been sparked by specific grievances but are driven by long-simmering issues like widening inequality, economic uncertainty, corruption, and nepotism of leaders.” Additionally, as I write there are ongoing protests in Serbia, and just recently in the United States as well as previous ones which have occurred in the past ten years. What distinguishes these newer protests has been the extremely good use of social media to get their messaging out to the public and the international community, at many levels.
Why should we care and is there something to be done? The reason we should clearly care is that so many government officials seem to forget why they are in their positions, and the younger members of their societies remind that the work they are supposed to is to help provide a better future. And, in these countries, it does look like the establishment doesn’t realize or care and these protests also reminds them that the status quo can be changed. What should continue to be done is to maintain a spotlight on these protests and the issues they focus on. The international press and international actors should persist in broadcasting this in their governments and news venues. It is heartening to see these protests as they are a reminder that there is always hope for a better future.
Links:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/gen-z-protests-morocco-madagascar-peru-nepal-b2846618.html