Tag: Social Unrest

How to tackle the resurgent social crises

Despite uneven economic recovery since the pandemic, poverty, inequality, and food insecurity continue to worsen, including in the Asia-Pacific region, which used to fare better than the rest of the Global South.

New Approaches Urgently Needed to Tackle Resurgent Social Crises | Inter Press Service

Social Unrest in 2022

“Economic protests in 2022 were generally short-lived: approximately one-half lasted a week or less, while under one-third lasted longer than a month. In four of the five preceding years, only about 20 percent of economic protests lasted a week or less… neither the economic crises of 2020 (related to supply chains and labor shortages), nor those of 2022 (concerning rising prices of fuel and food) pointed to clear solutions that would give protests staying power in the streets.”

Of course, Peter Gelderloos has a point, below: “The economistic, quantitative analysis that claims our resistance begins with economic downturns shares more in common with the gaze of those hired to dissect revolt than with the gaze of those who participate in it.”

Nevertheless, given that public opinion too regularly gives up on popular movements and mass action, preferring instead to foster a savior complex with great leaders parachuting in, this reflection of people’s power and fury should be affirming.)

https://carnegieendowment.org/publications/interactive/protest-tracker