Over the past year, the world has witnessed a wave of protests led by Generation Z youth, from Nepal to Madagascar, and from Indonesia to Peru, where tens of thousands of teenagers and young people in their twenties came out to demand change.
These young people expressed their hopes and aspirations in ways that were unique to their era. They used social media to spread their messages and organize their ranks, and in Nepal, they used artificial intelligence and the “Discord” application to elect an interim prime minister.
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The demonstrators adopted the skull and crossbones logo inspired by the “One Piece” pirate anime, considering it a symbol of rebellion and freedom.
Past historical experiences, such as the Arab Spring, show that overthrowing regimes does not necessarily guarantee the achievement of the desired transformations
But months after these uprisings, a question arises: Have Generation Z youth actually succeeded in achieving real change? This report reviews the fate of youth protests in several countries, with a focus on Nepal and Madagascar.
Nepal
Caution should be exercised when evaluating the results of youth demonstrations, as past historical experiences, such as the Arab Spring, show that overthrowing regimes does not necessarily guarantee the achievement of the desired transformations, says a New York Times report.
The American newspaper sees Nepal as the most positive and successful model. Protests began in September 2025 against the then-incumbent Nepali government due to rampant corruption, impunity, and a ban on social media. It resulted in the overthrow of the government within two days.
After approximately 6 months, Balindra Shah (35 years old) was elected to become Prime Minister of Nepal, and was sworn in in April 2026, noting that he was the mayor of Kathmandu and was also famous for being a former rapper who highlighted immigration and issues of political corruption.
Noticeable changes
The newspaper expands its coverage of Nepal in another lengthy report entitled “We will turn trauma into something beautiful,” to clarify that this transformation came at a high human cost, as dozens of protesters were killed during confrontations with security forces.
However, the currently ruling youth party, Rastriya Swatantra, was able to achieve an overwhelming majority, and the percentage of MPs under the age of 30 rose to about 10%, compared to less than 2% in the previous parliament.
A third of government ministers have also become women, an indication of a profound shift in the political mood.
The newspaper notes that a former economist at the World Bank was appointed Minister of Finance, and a social activist – Sudan Gurung – was appointed Minister of Interior, which reflects a trend towards efficiency rather than party loyalties.
In terms of economic changes, the government made the medical examinations necessary to work abroad less expensive, and began pursuing intermediary companies responsible for the travel of Nepalese workers, as these companies were accused of imposing exorbitant and extortionate fees on young people, according to the newspaper.
The new government has pledged to create 1.2 million local jobs to reduce reliance on immigration, and develop a fully digital government system to reduce bureaucracy and corruption.
The report points out the importance of this change for the workforce, as 10% of the total population works abroad, and at least 1.7 million Nepalis work in the Gulf countries in the construction and security sector, and remittances from expatriates represent a quarter of Nepal’s gross domestic product.
With many young people heading abroad, the new government pledged to create 1.2 million local jobs to reduce dependence on immigration, and develop a fully digital government system to reduce bureaucracy and corruption, according to the report.
Future challenges
But behind this success, pain remains present. Many participants in the revolution still talk about the “collective trauma” left by the confrontations with the security forces, which claimed dozens of lives and burned thousands of buildings, according to what the newspaper reported.
Despite promises of broad reforms, Nepal still suffers from the migration of young people in search of job opportunities, as a result of the limited local economy.
Sanjeev Heomajin, a political scientist at Nepal Open University, warns against “the idea of a single savior or God to whom the rules do not apply.”
Some also warn against following the new leader as if he were a savior descended from heaven and flawless, according to the report, because that threatens the return of the political and social immunity that surrounded the previous government.
In this regard, the newspaper quoted the warning of Sanjeev Humagin, a political scientist at the University of Nepal, against “the idea of a single savior or God to whom the rules do not apply.”
Humagen adds that the people “need an experienced leader who is an expert in governance, parliamentary work, and collective work, and not just a populist who says, ‘Down with the old regime.'”
One of the participants in the protests points out that the real challenge now – which many view with optimism – lies in transforming the revolutionary momentum into concrete policies that improve the lives of citizens.
Madagascar
The picture appears more complex in Madagascar. According to the New York Times, the Generation Z protests led to the president fleeing the country and the rise of a military commander to power with support from the street, but a Guardian newspaper report reveals that this shift quickly raised new fears.
On April 12, the authorities launched an arrest campaign targeting 4 leaders and activists from the “Generation Z in Madagascar” movement after they participated in protests demanding setting a date for the elections, according to the British newspaper.
The detainees were charged with serious charges such as “undermining state security” and “conspiracy,” which the lawyers completely deny, according to what the Guardian reported.
The Madagascar protests began in September 2025 and continued for weeks against the government of President Andry Rajoelina, and ultimately led to the president fleeing the country, and then a military leadership came to power with the support of the protesters.
Faces of the old government
The British newspaper says that a state of frustration prevailed among the youth of “Generation Z” in Antananarivo after it became clear that the new military regime may not differ from the previous regime that they overthrew.
Many young people who celebrated the fall of the former president have become disappointed and upset due to the continued influence of figures linked to the old regime
The Madagascar presidency announced at the end of last March the formation of the new government, led by President Michael Randrianirina and new Prime Minister Mamitina Rajaonarison. The government formation included 30 ministers, including 13 new faces, while 17 ministers retained their previous positions.
The Guardian explains that many young people who celebrated the fall of the former president are now feeling disappointed and upset, due to the continued influence of figures linked to the old regime and the absence of economic reforms.
The newspaper confirms that the demands of young people are not limited to setting the date of the elections, as they are demanding a new constitution and electoral reforms that prevent the control of power by those with money.
Peru
In Peru, the New York Times report provides an example of the complexity of the political scene. Young people took to the streets to protest corruption and deteriorating security, which led to the dismissal of President Dina Boluarte, and then the removal of her temporary successor, Jose Khaire, over allegations of corruption after only 4 months in office.
However, the report confirms that these developments reflect a state of chronic instability rather than a clear victory for Generation Z.
He adds that the country witnessed political turmoil that led to the succession of nine presidents in a decade without completing their terms. In this context, it is difficult to separate the role of youth protests from the broader political crisis that the country is suffering from.
After Khairy, MP Jose Maria Balcazar was elected as the country’s new interim president, while new elections are now being held. The international community is watching current developments with interest, given that Peru is the third largest copper producer in the world, and in light of increasing competition for influence in the region between the United States and China.
Indonesia and the Philippines
In Indonesia and the Philippines, the protests demonstrated the ability of young people to exert pressure, but with limits.
According to the New York Times, protesters in Indonesia succeeded in pushing the government to rescind some of the privileges granted to members of the House of Representatives, after widespread demonstrations took place in August 2025 to protest the high costs of living.
In the Philippines, similar protests broke out in September 2025 against corruption, but did not lead to fundamental changes in the power structure. The report indicates that traditional political elites still dominate the scene, despite the two countries’ history of overthrowing authoritarian regimes through popular movements.
Morocco, Kenya and Togo
The report shed light on youth protests in Morocco, as the newspaper confirms that they were driven by the high unemployment rate and the deterioration of public services.
However, according to the New York Times, the results were limited, as the authorities faced these movements with strict security measures.
The report adds that this pattern was repeated in other countries such as Kenya and Togo with a high youth population, where the protests were met with repression, which led to a decline in their momentum without achieving their basic demands.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is an important case because it represents the first notable success of a revolution led by Generation Z in 2024, but the results now appear ambiguous, according to the New York Times.
Last February, the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tariq Rahman (60 years old), was sworn in at the head of the first elected government since the 2024 protests that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after she ruled the country for two terms, the second of which lasted nearly 15 years.
The New York Times notes that the ruling party promised broad reforms, but was slow in implementing them at the time of writing the report. This reflects the difficulty of translating revolutionary momentum into permanent institutional changes, according to the newspaper.
Generation Z has succeeded in moving the political scene globally, and breaking the stagnation in several countries, but its ability to achieve sustainable transformation is still limited.
In conclusion, these experiences, as presented in the reports, reveal that Generation Z has succeeded in moving the political scene globally, and breaking the stagnation in several countries.
However, its ability to achieve sustainable transformation remains limited, in light of the resistance of entrenched elites and the complexity of political systems.
