Sizable anti-government protests with a pointed political edge are mushrooming in multiple regions. A knot of protests has hit the Balkans—in Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Another set has erupted in Central and Eastern Europe, including in Georgia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Demonstrations have also flared in Greece, Israel, Mozambique, South Korea, and Türkiye. What is triggering this surge in political protests? And does it represent good or bad news for democracy globally? Governments’ anti-democratic actions are driving most of these protests. In two cases, Georgia and Mozambique, the widely perceived manipulation of national elections pushed citizens into the streets. In Georgia, the new government’s decision to suspend accession talks with the EU added fuel to the fire. In both countries, protests have continued for several months.
Why Are Political Protests Surging Around the World? | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
