A state of social and political instability characterized by protests, strikes, and violence. It often results from economic, social, and political factors that undermine people’s quality of life and faith in the government. Political unrest is a common cause of corruption, inequality, authoritarianism, and civil war. It can also have serious consequences for the economy.
How can we reduce political violence?
The best way to prevent violent political unrest is by preventing polarization. A key challenge in many countries is ensuring that people feel that their views are heard by the other major parties and that they can voice their concerns. Fairer policing (including training in de-escalation tactics and support for officers under stress), improved intelligence sharing on domestic threats, and efforts to ensure that police are more representative of minority communities can all help deter political unrest.
While social unrest declined sharply at the start of the pandemic amid an increase in social distancing (both voluntary and mandatory), it is possible that unrest could rise again if people are spooked by rising prices and a squeeze on incomes, or if governments fail to address economic grievances. IMF research has found that a rise in unrest can depress GDP by reducing consumer spending, slowing economic growth, and causing loss of production. In such cases, it takes 18 months for a country’s gross domestic product to return to pre-pandemic levels. In the meantime, companies should ensure that their employees are safe, and should promote a culture of vigilance and awareness.