A September of Gen Z politics

Part of The Guardian Podcasts, The great gen-Z revolt, delivers a compelling narrative about youth uprisings in Nepal, Madagascar and Morocco starting this September. (You missed the last two, didn't you?) The episode offers vivid on-the-ground reporting - personal stories of risk, anger and hope - paired with what these protests might tell us about a generation coming of political age.

The protests share surprising commonalities: decentralised organisation, digital-era symbols and urgency around basic needs.

In Madagascar (pic), what began as youth outrage over electricity and water outages escalated into mass mobilisation. In the same month in Nepal, protests over corruption and social media restrictions culminated in street mobilisations. Even in Morocco, Gen Z-led anger has targeted not only corruption but policy priorities - including public frustration at investment in mega sporting infra while education suffers.


While the podcast gives voice to activists and shows local texture, it could have benefited from placing each country's story into the global comparative frame more deeply. That said, this episode throws light from non-obvious angles for anyone seeking to understand how Gen Z is reshaping politics today.