Often, political unrest is the result of deep dissatisfaction and agitation among people about government actions or policies. It can lead to protests, strikes and violence. It can also occur when people’s faith in their government is eroded because of corruption, inequality, or political repression.
Political instability can have significant economic consequences. When the economy is shaken, businesses become wary and may limit investments or pull out altogether. This can result in high unemployment, especially if the government does not implement effective policies to reduce poverty rates or provide social safety nets for workers who lose their jobs.
In addition, political unrest can cause other negative effects such as inflation, stock market volatility and currency fluctuations. It can also hurt a country’s global reputation by encouraging investors to steer clear and threatening other nations’ stability. If a country’s unrest is viewed as a threat to world peace, trading partners may also limit or even cut ties.
Despite political violence’s long history, it has shifted since the late 1960s to target both property and people — such as minorities, abortion providers and federal agents. The current political unrest in the United States is fueled by intensely ideological groups that draw adherents out of the mainstream into clandestine cells, such as the Weather Underground Organization and anti-imperialist and animal rights extremists. In many cases, these groups are financed by outside sources, which increases their leverage and makes them more dangerous.
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