During a crisis, individuals are vulnerable to be exploited by extremists who use rhetoric and momentum to provoke political unrest. In such situations, violence can quickly escalate from a localized protest to an all-out revolt.
The root causes of political unrest are complex and diverse. But the most common cause is inequality. High economic disparities lead people to perceive that the government is unfair and unable to solve their problems. This disaffection can motivate citizens to organize dissent through peaceful and violent means, such as strikes, demonstrations, and riots.
Political instability also stems from a lack of transparency. When a political system is opaque, it is difficult for citizens to hold politicians accountable and understand how their taxes are used. This can erode the legitimacy of a state and foster mistrust amongst citizens. In addition, poor governance leads to inefficiencies in service delivery, and this undermines state authority.
Inequality, corruption, and mistrust are all factors that contribute to a country’s political instability. This can result in civil unrest, terrorism, and other forms of conflict.
While the incidence of political unrest declined globally during the pandemic, it is still a risk that should be taken into account when developing a pre-emergency plan. While businesses often focus on planning for natural disasters and man-made hazards, it is important to consider how a civil disturbance could impact business operations. By incorporating political unrest into a business’s disaster recovery plan, companies can prepare for potential loss of revenue and disruption of essential services.