Across continents, streets and university squares have become the primary arena for a generation that feels shut out of economic opportunity and political influence. From the Andes to the Himalayas, protests led largely by people born after 1997 — commonly grouped as Gen Z — are challenging governments with demands that range from anti-corruption measures to better jobs and an end to state violence.

In Peru, demonstrators point to a catalogue of grievances: more than 500 protests since December 2022 and the deaths of roughly 50 civilians in clashes with security forces, according to local tallies. “We’re fighting the same battle — against corrupt officials who, in our case, are also killers,” one protester said, summing up the anger that has kept demonstrations alive despite government efforts to control the streets.

Similar motivations animate movements in Chile, where students and young workers pushed for constitutional reform after mass protests in 2019; in Iran, where young women and men drove a protest wave after the death of Mahsa Amini; and in parts of South Asia, where economic stagnation and perceived elite capture have fueled repeated mobilizations. Social media platforms such as TikTok and WhatsApp are lowering coordination costs and spreading images and narratives that turn isolated events into international conversations almost overnight.

The political stakes are high. Public opinion research compiled by news organizations and independent polling shows that younger cohorts report lower trust in institutions and are more likely to endorse disruptive tactics than older voters. Demographically, the world still counts roughly 1.8 billion people aged 10 to 24, according to United Nations estimates — a sizable bloc whose political behavior will shape elections and policy for decades.

Economically, the protests reflect and exacerbate structural weaknesses. Youth unemployment remains well above adult rates in many countries, and rising living costs have eroded real incomes for young households. For governments, the immediate fiscal response — whether increased social transfers, education and training programs, or more spending on security — will squeeze budgets already strained by post-pandemic debt burdens and higher interest rates. Markets respond to prolonged unrest with heightened volatility: tourism declines, foreign direct investment slows, and sovereign borrowing costs can widen if investors anticipate fiscal slippage or political instability.

Policy choices now are stark. Repression risks short-term calm but higher long-term political and economic costs, including international sanctions or reputational damage. Meaningful reform — anti-corruption measures, labor market reforms, targeted employment programs and credible judicial action — demands both political will and fiscal space that many governments lack. For investors, the immediate implication is greater country risk dispersion; for policymakers, the imperative is to translate protest energy into institutions that can absorb youth expectations without fracturing the social compact.

Longer term, this wave of activism highlights enduring trends: rising education and connectivity, generational shifts in political values, and structural economic challenges such as automation and uneven growth. How governments respond will determine whether these protests become a catalyst for reform or a repeating cycle of upheaval with persistent economic and political costs.