Opinion | Protest is not policy
Summary
Europe’s new wave of protests shows how crowds can raise pressure quickly but struggle to translate it into lasting policy change. Nepal’s Gen Z uprising brought down a government, but accountability and institutional reform remain incomplete.
Key Points
- Europe is seeing major protests over education, housing and living costs, but the article argues that protests often spread faster than they change policy.
- Nepal’s Gen Z protests forced a political shift and led to action against former Prime Minister Oli, but accountability for the crackdown has been slow.
- France and Belgium show contrasting limits on protest power: fragmented politics in France and strong coalition resilience in Belgium.
- The article argues that lasting change depends on institutions, opposition parties, civil society and the press, not crowds alone.
