In a broad sense, political unrest encompasses any occurrence of collective physical violence in a context of social or political instability. It includes both peaceful and violent protests, demonstrations and mass gatherings that can lead to injuries and property destruction. This definition of civil unrest is consistent with that used by the United Nations human rights monitoring mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and its treaty-based bodies and independent human rights experts (Kalyvas, 2000).
One of the most significant causes of political unrest is economic inequality. When wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small group, it creates resentment among those who do not benefit from national growth and fosters grievances that can lead to protests or even to the overthrow of a government.
The perception of corruption also fuels political unrest. When government officials abuse their positions for personal gain, it erodes public confidence in the integrity of democratic processes and the ability of government institutions to serve the people’s interests. This is especially true in countries where large portions of the population are unemployed, creating a breeding ground for frustration and anger.
In a more indirect way, political unrest can impact an economy by spooking consumers and dampening business activity. It can also limit access to international markets, as businesses avoid investing in a country with uncertain conditions. And in the worst case, it can trigger trade restrictions by other states when they see a threat to global peace and security.