Description
The year 2025 was widely described as “the year of the Gen Z uprising,” as young people mobilised across Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, Kenya, Madagascar, Peru, and Morocco. While these movements have attracted some scholarly attention, their analysis from peace and security perspectives remains almost absent. This is a significant gap, given that Gen Z movements in many countries have been marked by high levels of violence, raising important theoretical questions about the conditions for peace and security in the contemporary Global South. The growing impact of Gen Z movements in countries such as India further enhances their wider significance. This paper aims to address this gap by offering insights into digitally mobilised Gen Z uprisings through an in-depth examination of the case of Nepal. Nepal represents a particularly significant case study because it experienced an unprecedentedly high intensity of violence that culminated in the collapse of the existing government within 48 hours. Using a qualitative single-case study approach, the paper addresses: What factors explain the emergence and success of digitally organised Gen Z uprisings in Nepal? And what have been their implications for peace and security?