The concept of political unrest is a key one in understanding the social and political tensions that lead to protests, strikes and revolutions. But what is it exactly? And how can it be measured? The answer is that political unrest, or civil unrest as it is sometimes called (though a more specific term like ‘civil strife’ could also be used), is very hard to define. It is an umbrella term for a range of phenomena that may include violent actions but also non-violent collective action and mass gatherings, which can result in deaths and injuries. The term is not included in the standard definitions of conflict datasets such as ACLED or Armed Conflict Location & Event Data but has been defined and reported in various ways, including in the literature on armed conflicts and in a few open source indicators.
Often, political unrest stems from deeply rooted grievances and a perception of marginalization or exclusion from power. These can be related to ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, and can resurface in the form of protests or riots. In some cases, they can also be linked to natural hazards, climate change or other environmental and technological factors that can trigger instability.
In addition, some people are pushed to act by the emergence of radical or extremist movements. Research on social movement theory suggests that people who are alienated from the political institutions of their country, such as by a sense of being disengaged from politics and a lack of access to information, are more likely to become radicalized and join violent movements.