Across South Asia and beyond, a new generation is shaking the foundations of political power. Generation Z—those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s—has emerged as a potent force, toppling governments, challenging entrenched elites, and demanding change in ways that have left many seasoned observers both hopeful and wary. Over the past three years, youth-led protests have swept countries from Sri Lanka to Madagascar, echoing across continents and sparking a global conversation about the future of governance.
It all began in earnest in January 2022, when Sri Lanka’s ‘Aragalya’ movement, driven by disillusioned youth, forced the resignation of the Rajapaksa government. According to Dawn, this marked a turning point, inspiring similar uprisings throughout the region. The movement’s success sent a clear message: misgovernance, corruption, and the abuse of power would not be tolerated by a generation raised in the digital age.
By 2024, the ripple effect had reached Bangladesh. Student protests there began as a response to discriminatory quotas for public sector jobs, but soon escalated into a nationwide civil disobedience campaign. The government’s violent crackdown left hundreds dead, but instead of quelling dissent, it fueled further outrage. The protests swelled, culminating in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s long-entrenched regime. As reported by Dawn and confirmed in The Telegraph, student leaders joined forces with other opposition groups, ultimately influencing the military to appoint Muhammed Yunus as interim prime minister.
Nepal’s turn came in September 2025. The government’s attempt to ban social media—a move widely perceived as an effort to silence dissent—was the spark that set off massive demonstrations. The crackdown was swift and brutal, claiming dozens of lives. Yet the violence only hardened the resolve of the protesters, most of whom were young and hyper-connected. The prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, resigned under mounting pressure. According to The Telegraph, these protests were marked by “increasing violence, looting, and vandalism,” prompting some commentators to question the political maturity of Gen Z and warn of the risk of extremism hijacking the movement.
Madagascar, too, felt the tremors of youth-led unrest. Earlier this month, protests triggered by water shortages and power cuts—set against a backdrop of poverty, nepotism, and bad governance—spiraled into chaos, ending with the government’s collapse and a military coup. Meanwhile, in Morocco, the grassroots group Gen Z 212 mobilized thousands to demand better healthcare and education, compelling the government to announce a series of social reforms.
What unites these disparate movements? According to both Dawn and The Telegraph, the drivers are strikingly similar: anger at the abuse of power, authoritarian governance, elite privilege, nepotism, corruption, rising inequality, and persistent joblessness. In many cases, the protests have targeted so-called “political nepo-babies”—the children and relatives of powerful politicians who benefit from family connections and flaunt their wealth on social media. In Nepal, for example, the hashtag #nepokids went viral, as images of politicians’ offspring posing with luxury cars and designer accessories highlighted the stark divide between the elite and ordinary citizens.
Social media itself has been both a tool and a battleground. Gen Z, raised in the era of smartphones and instant communication, has leveraged platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to organize, spread their message, and draw inspiration from protests in other countries. As Dawn notes, “Digital protests have played a pivotal role in all Gen Z political movements.” Indeed, the lexicon, tactics, and even the hashtags of these uprisings have crossed borders, creating what some analysts call “contagious uprisings.” Protesters in Nepal cited the youth movement in Bangladesh as a source of inspiration, while Madagascar’s youth looked to Nepal as a model to emulate.
The outcomes of these protests have varied. Some, like those in Bangladesh and Nepal, have resulted in the ouster of governments and the promise of reforms. Others, such as Madagascar, have ended in military coups. In Morocco, the protests led to policy changes rather than regime change. Yet, as both Dawn and The Telegraph caution, none of these movements has yet produced the fundamental systemic transformation that many young activists crave. The old structures remain, even if the faces at the top have changed.
This raises a pressing question: can the fervor of youth-led protest translate into lasting democratic reform? History offers a sobering perspective. As The Telegraph points out, revolutions led by young people—the French Revolution of 1789, the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the Chinese Socialist Revolution of 1949—often descended into violence and paved the way for new forms of authoritarianism. The article warns, “Leaders leading violent uprisings, in most cases, turn up to be ruthless tyrants.”
Some thinkers argue that non-violent resistance, as championed by Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr., is a more effective path to genuine change. “Violence cannot create power,” the article quotes the scholar Hannah Arendt, “power can only emerge through negotiation among rulers and ruled and through concerted action among people.” The challenge for Gen Z, then, is not just to topple regimes, but to build transparent, accountable institutions—free and fair elections, ombudsman offices, and robust political parties—that can safeguard democracy for the long haul.
South Asia’s political landscape, characterized by personality-centric power structures and weak institutions, has long been vulnerable to upheaval. The recent wave of Gen Z protests is a wake-up call to governments that have failed to respond to the “revolution of rising expectations,” as American social scientist Harlan Cleveland once described it. But as The Telegraph notes, “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” and only proactive, engaged citizens can ensure that democracy takes root and flourishes.
Looking ahead, the momentum shows no sign of slowing. As of October 27, 2025, Gen Z’s protests continue to reverberate across continents, reminding rulers everywhere that the patience of youth is not infinite—and that the digital age has given them tools their predecessors could only dream of. Whether these movements will ultimately deliver the systemic change their leaders hope for remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the world is watching, and Gen Z is not backing down.
