A state of political discontent and agitation among the population, often manifested by protests, strikes or revolutions. Civil unrest can have far-reaching effects for a country, impacting everything from stock markets to workforce productivity and damage to infrastructure.
In the last decade, political unrest has become a global phenomenon. It occurs in advanced and emerging countries, democracies and autocracies, rich and poor. Although the causes can vary widely, economic inequality is often at the root of unrest, with a significant portion of the population feeling excluded from the benefits of the economy.
While political unrest may seem unpredictable, it is increasingly commonplace, and organizations should prepare accordingly. This can include having contingency plans for transportation, work/study locations and the availability of services. It’s also important to communicate regularly with employees, customers, and partners during a time of unrest, using tools like mass notification systems to provide updates on safety or protest locations.
The IMF’s Reported Social Unrest Index is an attempt to measure unrest consistently across 130 countries. It measures media reports of protests or riots and combines them into monthly time series. In the past decade, this index has been at or above record levels. Its high level is likely due to the increase in protest activity in many countries, including developed economies. Nevertheless, the index remains volatile. A sharp rise in the index is typically a sign of widespread political instability, and may indicate that a government’s policies are not working for citizens.