Gen Z Mobilisation and Political Uprisings in South Asia: A Comparative Study of Bangladesh and Nepal

Abstract

This study addresses the question of how, when, and why young people in South Asia have become an important political force by examining the experiences of youth-led mobilisation and uprisings in Bangladesh versus Nepal. The paper, which is at the intersection of comparative politics and International Relations, examines the impact of digital nativity, socio-economic grievances and transformations in political identities on the nature of youth participation in the present. It examines some of the reasons why Gen Z mobilisation may be occurring in these contexts. How and why do digital platforms affect the nature of contentious politics in different ways?

This study's theoretical frameworks include contentious politics and the political opportunity structure, indicating that Gen Z uprisings are not arbitrary but rather coordinated responses to poor governance, unemployment, corruption, and disillusionment with democracy. This study uses secondary literature, media reports, and digital discourse analysis of social media to trace patterns of mobilisation and state reactions, using the qualitative comparative case study method.

The initial investigation suggests that digital mobilisation and youth-led opposition culture are strong in both Bangladesh and Nepal. The uprisings take different paths and have different effects, depending on regime type, state capacity, and political openness. The political system and mobilisation in Bangladesh are more episodic and constrained than in Nepal. Nepal has a more democratic political system that enables sustained youth mobilisation. The study contributes to a better understanding of Gen Z as an important stakeholder in the restructuring of state–society relations in the digital era. It is also important in the ongoing conversation about youth politics, democratic change, and the stability of the South Asian region.