Growing discontent with political elites, economic instability and global crises are fuelling mass protests across Europe. With traditional solutions failing, it remains uncertain whether Gen Z’s digital activism and demand for systemic change will drive meaningful reform or succumb to the same political gridlock that has frustrated previous generations
The end of last year and the start of this one have been marked by mass protests across various parts of Europe – from Germany to Romania and Georgia, all the way to our doorstep. Are these protests driven by nationally specific motives and reactions, or do they share a common thread, much like in 1968, when protests with similar ideological undertones erupted across the European continent seemingly out of nowhere?
We discussed unfolding events with our interlocutors, whose insights help us understand the deep-rooted dissatisfaction driving people to the streets, the similarities and differences between these protests, and their possible outcomes.