Political unrest refers to the general dissatisfaction of a population with government policies and actions. This can result in a variety of activities including protests, strikes, and even revolutions. The root cause of these events is often deep societal inequality or oppression. Throughout history, many people have found it necessary to protest against governments and fight for their rights and freedoms.
The number of riots and other forms of civil unrest around the world has spiked in recent years, particularly since 2011. This activity can be observed across all countries and populations—developed and developing, autocracies and democracies, resource-rich and -poor, etc. A recent body of IMF research aims to understand the economic drivers and costs of such unrest.
Severe economic inequality is the main driver of political unrest. When a large percentage of the population feels excluded from economic benefits, they are more likely to lose faith in the government and turn to violent protests. When corruption is involved, the situation can worsen even further.
In the United States, political violence has shifted rightward in the last few decades. From the late 1960s to the 1970s, it was mostly carried out by left-wing groups such as the anti-imperialist Weather Underground Organization and the animal-rights group Operation Rescue. Then the movement shifted to the far-right with white supremacist and militia groups. Today, these extremists are more numerous and better organized.