The Global Advisor Terrorism, War and Civil Unrest | December 2025
Focus on: Gen Z protest movement
Protests erupting globally in 2025 have been predominantly driven by youth and student (Gen Z) movements and refute the notion that young people are apathetic to societal issues, such as inequality, corruption, climate change and geopolitical conflicts. While these protests are often triggered by local developments or ongoing grievances, they all reflect broader dissatisfaction with the political leadership and economic instability. This is especially the case where disaffected and often unemployed young people face declining living standards and limited public services. The recent wave of unrest highlights a shift in how younger protesters are mobilised. These movements have adopted universal symbols and made similar demands despite their geographic distance. Youth groups are leveraging digital tools, including hashtags, AI-enhanced or satirical images and memes. Visual references from global culture, that have been adapted to local struggles yet are instantly recognisable globally, circulate rapidly. A key symbol of youth-led protests is a flag depicting a skull and crossbones wearing a yellow hat from a Japanese manga series. Gen Z protest movements have been particularly large in Bulgaria , Indonesia , Madagascar , Morocco , Nepal , Peru , the Philippines and Serbia . Most unrest has been directed towards governments, underscoring the protesters’ drive for political and economic change. Most of the demonstrations were against government sites and security forces between 1 July and 6 October. Youth-led protests have contributed to significant political upheaval, and leaders in Bulgaria ,
Key takeaways
Unrest incidents against commercial sectors in hotspots, 1 July–6 Oct
Source: Seerist
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Youth-led protests are increasingly transnational, driven by shared grievances and co-ordinated through digital platforms rather than geographic proximity. Corruption and inequality remain central catalysts, with political scandals often acting as accelerants for mobilisation. The use of global cultural references, such as the Japanese manga flag, illustrates how youth movements adapt and mirror each other to build solidarity and visibility. Hotspot regions with high youth unemployment, severe inequality and pervasive online cultures include those in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Companies should monitor major events and policy reforms as potential flashpoints for unrest that could prompt operational disruption, political instability and reputational risks.
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Indonesia Madagascar
Morocco Nepal
Peru Philippines Serbia
Madagascar , Peru and Nepal have been removed or stood down. Meanwhile, high-ranking resignations were rife during the peak of the protests in the Philippines and Indonesia . While the quick turnover in leadership underscores the power of these protests, rapid transitions also introduce political and integrity risks. Countries with high youth unemployment, strained public resources and deep inequality will remain hotspots for youth-led unrest. In 2024, the UN International Labor Organization (ILO) reported that the Middle East and North Africa , Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have elevated rates of unemployed or out-of-school young people. Another key factor that supports the development of such movements is access to mobile internet and social media.
Future trigger events will include major sports or other large events that require high levels of funding or controversial reforms. Morocco’s ambitious investment drive ahead of global sporting events, including the 2030 soccer World Cup, added to the sense of imbalance and frustration that drove recent youth protests there. The Pan American Games in Peru (2027) and Paraguay (2031), and the African Games in Egypt (2027), are other events that could drive protest activity. Reforms related to pensions, cost of living, education and healthcare will also remain flashpoints for unrest. And longer-term, more extreme weather events may prompt large-scale rebuilding projects that are vulnerable to corruption, stoking discontent.
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