The term “political unrest” describes a broad spectrum of societal tensions that can result in protests, strikes and other types of conflict. While there is no universally accepted definition for the phenomenon, it is often compared to related terms such as riot and terrorism. Furthermore, a number of open source conflict data sets do not define it, including ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data).
One of the most common causes of political unrest is economic inequality. When the wealth of a country is concentrated amongst a small group of individuals and not widely distributed, it can foster resentment within communities and weaken confidence in government institutions. The inability of governments to provide basic services also feeds into political instability.
Another cause is social and cultural discontent. The rapid pace of globalisation and the impact of cultural changes on traditional societies can lead to a sense of alienation from society. Such discontent can manifest in political movements that advocate racial and social justice, whose members typically demonstrate peacefully but are sometimes targeted by government agents.
Finally, political corruption and oppression can fuel political unrest by eroding the trust of citizens in their government. This can erode the legitimacy of government institutions and ultimately lead to a collapse in foreign investment, loss of jobs, an increase in inflation and even a decline in the value of a nation’s currency. As a consequence, it is important to reduce the incidence of these risks and prevent political instability and unrest before they occur.