How to Address the Roots of Gen Z Frustration

Youth protests that have toppled governments and brought life to a standstill in countries in South Asia and beyond are united not only by visible symbols, notably a Jolly Roger flag from a Japanese anime, but by a common underlying logic. These countries tend to share three key elements: low social mobility, poor-quality employment, and deficits in citizenship and planning. Protests will keep arising until these elements have been effectively addressed. This requires a reconsideration of how employment and citizenship are imagined in a world of rising artificial intelligence and retreating jobs.

Duke Scholars

Author Anirudh Krishna Sanford School of Public Policy