Corruption, Rage, and Technology: The Drivers of New Uprisings in Asia

Recent waves of unrest across Asia, from Nepal to Indonesia and Bangladesh, highlight how entrenched corruption, deep inequality, and collective anger are being rapidly mobilized through technology and social media.

In September, Nepal witnessed a sudden surge of protests after the government declared 26 internet platforms illegal. According to BBC Persian, this decision ignited widespread anger among young people, who used digital communication tools to organize demonstrations that quickly escalated into attacks on government buildings, shaking the country’s political and social order.

Indonesia faced similar turmoil when public anger over high parliamentary salaries triggered mass demonstrations. Reuters reported that the protests eventually forced the government to cut lawmakers’ pay.

In Bangladesh, unrest last year grew into what analysts described as the largest uprising since the country’s independence. According to the Associated Press, the protests drove long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina out of the country and led to Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus assuming interim leadership.

Experts say the common threads across these movements are corruption, economic disparity, and the failure of traditional institutions to respond to public demands. The decisive factor transforming discontent into organized action, however, has been the role of youth and digital technologies, enabling swift, leaderless mobilization.