Generation Z protests: what unites young people in different countries around the world

Demonstrations led by young people from generation Z – born from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s – have spread across the world. In Nepal and Madagascar, the wave of protests brought down governments. In Peru, the recently inaugurated president decreed a 30-day emergency amid the wave of violence. Protests also took to the streets in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Morocco, for different reasons. But what motivations unite young people in all these countries? All of these protests have a massive presence of young people dissatisfied with the political and economic elites, in a scenario of “palpable pessimism” that drives mobilizations. This is what Oliver Stuenkel explained in conversation with Natuza Nery in the episode of the podcast O Assunto on Thursday (23). LISTEN IN THE PLAYER ABOVE. The protests of generation Z Professor of International Relations at FGV, Oliver spoke about how generation Z has the perception that political elites are “disconnected” from the real problems of the population’s daily lives. In addition to digital connectivity, Oliver listed common reasons that unite young people in different countries around the world: Perception of disconnection between political elites in relation to the population’s day-to-day problems; Distrust in institutions; Dissatisfaction with poor public services and the State’s inability to respond to the demands of the new generation; Economic inequality as the main source of discomfort; Lack of future prospects and feeling that individual effort does not guarantee social advancement as in the past; Generational difference: young people do not believe they will have the same opportunities as previous generations; Growing economic uncertainty, coupled with geopolitical instability; Impact of new technologies, which bring rapid changes and can increase feelings of insecurity about the future of work. The symbolism of One Piece According to Oliver, pessimism is palpable in all manifestations, but digital interconnectivity also explains the use of a specific symbol that unites them: the flag of a manga originating in Japan called One Piece. “It’s about pirates fighting a corrupt oligarchy. [Esse símbolo] ends up appearing in demonstrations in different countries, not only in the Global South, but also, recently, in demonstrations in the United States.” “One Piece”, published since 1997 and turned into an anime in 1999, tells the story of pirates fighting against a corrupt oligarchy. “So, this really became something global that, despite the many differences in each country, connects young protesters.” The story behind ‘One Piece’ No In the context of the series, the protagonist is a candidate for pirate king, in a world that is basically aquatic. This flag is seen as a symbol of insurrection against an authoritarian power. “It’s a symbol of resistance and dissatisfaction, but also, perhaps, of a certain optimism — that it is possible, through demonstrations, through pressure, to make a positive difference,” says Oliver. A protester wears a mask while looking near a flag from ‘One Piece’ during a protest in Madagascar, on October 3, 2025 Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters The example of Chile In the interview, Oliver also warned about possible negative impacts of the demonstrations. He warned that it is “difficult to translate this energy on the streets into institutional advances.” What’s more: the overthrow of a government can create a political vacuum, which is often filled by Armed Forces, as occurred in Madagascar. The risk of repression increases when political stability is not achieved. Stuenkel cited Chile as an example of a country that managed to deal well with instability, promoting civic participation and bringing a new generation to power, although attempts to rewrite the Constitution have failed. “I would say that Chile perhaps represents the best scenario, because the large demonstrations brought a new generation to power, represented by current president Gabriel Boric.” “There are also younger candidates now on the right, promoting very organized debates — a reflection of a lot of political maturity about what kind of country Chile would like to be,” concludes Oliver. Listen to the full episode here. O Susunto is the daily podcast produced by g1, available on all audio platforms and on YouTube. Since its debut in August 2019, the O Assunto podcast has had more than 168 million downloads across all audio platforms. On YouTube, g1’s daily podcast has more than 14.2 million views. Young people take a selfie with Nepal’s government palace burning in the background, on September 9, 2025 AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha

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