The editorial review covers the shifting realities facing today’s youth, whose lifestyles starkly contrast with those of older generations. This demographic has spread across the globe in search of livelihoods, increasingly connected through mobile phones, yet showing diminishing attachment to traditional societies. This detachment, coupled with uncontrolled social media use, has contributed to current political unrest and rebellion.
This in-depth article by sociologist Mishra, published in three parts, situates the Generation Z movement within a global context and focuses on Nepal’s specific social dynamics. Professor Mishra, part of Nepal’s first generation of formal sociology educators and author of works such as Capitalism and Nepal, Changing Nepali Society, Essays on the Sociology of Nepal, and Democracy and Contemporary Marxism, examines how technological tools have fueled youth-led resistance and their wide-ranging effects.
Rapid social generational shifts have profound impacts, transforming not only individual life courses but also broader social-historical paradigms. These changes, accelerating in social, economic, political, and cultural realms, are expected to intensify in the coming decades, potentially sparking widespread conflicts, clashes, and generational rifts. These processes collectively bring forth new generations over abbreviated timespans.
The expansion of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) has dramatically increased access to information and knowledge, but it also opens the door to floods of disinformation and fabricated visuals, with potentially significant political, economic, and social repercussions. Projected advances in AI and robotics may elevate unemployment—particularly in repetitive jobs and lower-tier digital and clerical work.
Additionally, pandemics and wars risk devastating large segments of humanity. Climate crises threaten myriad livelihoods through irregular rainfall, resource scarcity, and population decline, potentially normalizing social instability, conflict, and displacement—which in turn creates marginalized communities. New instabilities within the capitalist global economy increase the likelihood of political and military realignments worldwide, often driven by right-wing, ethnic, and nationalist forces.
Accelerated de-ruralization is transforming villages into shadows of urban centers, exacerbating shortages of local resources and existential threats. These conditions fuel intensified generational social conflicts. Traditional political coalitions are losing relevance, while emerging social structures give rise to new identities. Individuals are also undergoing profound changes, necessitating a redefinition of generational relationships in line with societal transformations.
In Nepal, the youth, especially Generation Z, express varying degrees of rebellion through technology. The violence witnessed on September 8–9 underscores that not all Nepali youth collectively represent Gen Z. Reports indicate involvement of multiple factions in political violence during these events.
Over recent decades, Nepal’s youth have experienced significant social, economic, and cultural shifts—aggravating rural-to-urban migration and destabilizing traditional livelihoods. Declining agricultural contributions have generated unprecedented challenges for production processes, social structures, and farming lifestyles. Demographically, birth rates have plummeted and household sizes have shrunk. Migration from hill and mountain regions to the Terai and urban areas has increased notably, with the Terai’s population share rising significantly from 1971 to 2021.
Urbanization is playing out unevenly, with employment often precarious and poorly paid. Growing dependency on foreign employment and remittances has reshaped the economy, while fallow land and disrupted traditional farming pose grave challenges in rural areas. Abandoned fields, aging populations, and animal damage vividly illustrate these trends. Livelihood sources are increasingly shifting toward urban and international centers, weakening intra-community relations and cooperation in rural locales.
Traditional demarcations between city and village no longer capture reality, prompting the need for fresh cultural and political definitions. Urban lifestyles and cultures are reshaping rural areas profoundly. Understanding the origins and experiences of today’s Generation Z requires both local insights and a grasp of global trends.
The Gen Z involvement in the September 8–9 violence was neither complete nor universally accepted. Long-term economic, cultural, and work-related changes have profoundly altered social bonds and attachments. People are moving away from traditional families and communities toward shorter-term and more superficial personal relationships. Often, this increases instability and uncertainty, especially among impoverished and marginalized groups. Conversely, some groups—such as rural Madhesi women, Dalits, and agricultural laborers—have gained new freedoms and access, though they remain far from full empowerment.
Scarcity of rural production resources weakens community attachment and destabilizes livelihoods. Significant structural reform is urgently required to prevent large numbers of youth from falling into social and economic instability.
Youth engagement and social influence have grown alongside shifts in power. Although savings are limited in rural areas, urban centers offer employment and income opportunities that attract youth. Cities serve as hubs introducing youth to modern education, healthcare, and global trends. Nepali youth abroad share information and experiences that foster social and political awareness at home. Urban youth lead political and social movements, shaping political consciousness nationwide. Their votes significantly impact election outcomes, even in rural areas.
Mobile phones and social media have become unprecedented tools for connecting Nepali youth, facilitating relationships, information exchange, and global connectivity. These platforms erase geographic barriers, easing the flow of knowledge and ideas. However, social media also produces harmful effects: echo chambers, fake news surges, anonymity-driven misconduct, and dangerous behaviors proliferate. Disinformation spread online has been a key driver of political disputes and violence.
The third and final part of this article will be published on Monday.
