The term political unrest encompasses a wide range of social and/or political phenomena, from sporadic acts of violence to more persistent – although not necessarily violent – collective action. In general, civil unrest involves a perception of injustice in the context of social and/or political instability and can be triggered by either external or internal actors. It can also occur over short or long timeframes.
The roots of political unrest can vary widely, but often they stem from a sense of injustice in the form of economic inequality or other perceived inequalities. These feelings can arise from a lack of opportunities or the perception that a government is corrupt. Economic inequality can also result from the accumulation of wealth by a minority through business ventures or generational wealth, and is an important cause of political unrest in many countries.
In some cases, a country’s government can become too unstable to function, and may collapse through sometimes peaceful or violent means. Instabilities in a political regime can also be caused by radical changes within the regime itself or corruption.
In addition to threatening a country’s democracy, prolonged periods of political unrest can affect public transportation and business hours, as well as the availability of food and other basic necessities. As a result, they can create a risky environment in which terrorists and serious crime thrive. For this reason, it is particularly important for the international community to support efforts to reduce political violence.