Six months ago, Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina's control of power seemed to be unbreakable.The ruling people's alliance has just won the third re -election in a full invincible election, so that it can continue to completely control the state institution.Reporters, human rights defenders, members of the opposition, and other critics are facing political prosecution, imprisonment, exile, and forced disappearance. It seems that it has become a foregone conclusion.
However, in July Bangladesh's protests led by students suddenly broke out by the quota system assigned by government positions to ruling party allies.The country's violence against this has led to a death of more than 400 people and exposed the weakness of Harxina's 15 -year rule.Through a similar protest movement of the "Aragalaya" campaign to the "Aragalaya" movement ruled by the Rajapaksa family in 2022, young people in Bangladesh forced Hasina to resign and exile overseas.
Bangladesh is the latest in many Asian -African countries and a series of youth promotion uprising this year.In February of this year, Pakistani youth achieved a shocking result. Regardless of military obstruction, they voted collectively to support the imprisoned former Prime Minister Emran Khan, so that his allies won the most votes and parliaments.
In the next month, young voters in Senegal recaptured their democracy in an election that was almost stolen.Bassirou Diomaye Faye, originally obedient tax supervisor, jumped from the order in just a few weeks to become president.
Then, "earthquake" also occurred in Kenya in June.The protesters were proud to call themselves "Gen Z", and they took the streets to express anger for President William Ruto's plans to levy new taxes for life.Like Bangladesh, the official responded with fatal violence, causing dozens of people to die and hundreds of people injured, but Rato was eventually forced to withdraw the bill.Nowadays, people's eyes have turned to Nigeria, and protests caused by rising living expenses are turbulent.
The new generation is expressing their own claims in parts of Asian and Africa.Young people spontaneously organize protests and establish rare alliances.This is the first generation who grew up under the Internet.Not only did they use social media to announce and live street protests, they also used social media to organize and debate.In the process, they designed innovative tactics, including artificial intelligence, and digital demonstrations by holding digital demonstrations when they were blocked on the street.To this end, governments of various countries have used their own techniques to target them, from restricting the Internet to completely disconnecting the Internet.
These movements also shake people's traditional views on politics, transcending traditional racial and political differences, and often bypass traditional political parties and civilian social organizations.It is often believed that populism and authoritarianism are two supporting forces, but here, what we see is the expression of challenging authoritarianism with populism, and it is proven to be fearless, uncompromisingA generation of people.Instead of failing to deterize them, national violence often strengthens their determination.
Of course, exaggerating this "youth earthquake" or the events that occur on the two vast continent are all wrong.Gen Z's protesters are not iron plates, nor do they have ideal ambitions.Like people of other ages, young people have divergent politics.For example, the Bangladesh's youth violence branch, the Bangladesh Student Union, must bear part of the crime for the violence.
When Senegal has achieved a relatively stable transition due to the toughness of the system, Bangladesh is on a more uncertain road, and the threat of violence and civil strife is still shrouded in the country.Revals for the recent retaliation of the members of the People's Alliance and the attack on minority groups in Hinduism show that the taste of victory will cause some people to be seduced by revenge.
However, these incidents also have amazing similarities.Among the above -mentioned countries, the population aged 15 to 34 accounted for at least one -third of the total population.Although the Bangladesh economy can achieve a strong growth of about 6%each year, the youth unemployment rate is still as high as 15%.Many of them are carrying heavy debt burdens. 20%to 60%of government expenditures are used to repay debt, which enables public expenditures in education, medical care, and urgently needed climate actions.As a result, these protests occur in some of the most vulnerable countries in the world.
Whether it is Kenya's refund tax, Bangladesh's unfair job distribution, or Nigeria's rising living expenses, in many cases, new measures announced by the government will bring more economic pain to young people, which will cause protests.But these measures are only the fire that ignites the dissatisfaction that has accumulated over the past decades.The reason why young people feel desperate are not only lack of economic prospects, but also the greed of the ruler, the brutality of the country, and the general lack of response to their needs.They are impatient with the status quo, hoping to abandon outdated old order and re -assume their political system.
However, this change is not easy to succeed.Ten years ago, the Arab world broke out of a youth uprising, overthrowing the dictatorship, and evoking people's hope of more fair and fair order.But to avoid repeating the past mistakes, you must quickly seize and use the opportunities created at this moment, and at the same time, you must be careful to deal with various dangers.
Author binaifer nowrojee is the chairman of the Open Social Foundation
English Original Title: A New Policical "Youthquake"
All rights reserved: Project syndicate, 2024.
