Introduction
The world is in a difficult phase of international relations. Wars are spreading their impact far beyond the countries directly involved, economic uncertainties are increasing, energy supplies are under pressure, and the cost of living is becoming a serious concern for ordinary people. At the same time, the world order is changing, forcing every country to reconsider its economic interests, energy security and foreign policy priorities.
In this context, the expectations of the younger generation, particularly Gen Z, have taken on a new dimension. Their aspirations for better living standards, employment, economic opportunities and a more responsive system are genuine. However, the question remains whether these aspirations can be addressed without letting domestic protests become instruments of international political competition.
Wars Beyond Borders and the Cost of Living
Two key energy routes are under pressure, raising concerns about the movement of oil, gas and other essential goods. The consequences are being felt across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and other parts of the world. When energy becomes expensive, transportation costs rise, production becomes costlier, and prices of essential commodities increase. Ordinary citizens, particularly the middle and lower middle classes, ultimately bear the burden.
Sanctions have added another dimension to this situation. They are often imposed to influence a country’s behaviour or bring it to the negotiating table. But their consequences frequently extend to countries that neither initiated the conflict nor have a direct role in it. Countries such as India and China, along with nations across Africa and South Asia, are then expected to adjust their energy purchases and economic relationships to others’ strategic preferences.
Every country must consider its people, its economic needs, and its long-term national interests. International politics, however, increasingly demands that countries demonstrate where they stand and whose interests they are prepared to support.
The result is a growing contradiction between international political objectives and ordinary people’s everyday needs.
When International Pressure Meets Gen Z Aspirations
Against this background, we must understand Gen Z’s expectations.
Young people today have grown up with the promise of greater opportunities, technological advancement, improved living standards and a more open world. They expect employment, affordable housing, better education and a reasonable opportunity to build their future. They also compare their lives with those of people in other countries and expect governments to respond more quickly to their concerns.
When these expectations meet rising prices, unemployment and economic uncertainty, frustration is inevitable. Meanwhile, governments operate under considerable constraints. They must manage public expenditure, inflation, energy costs, international commitments, and competing domestic demands.
This gap between public expectations and the government’s capacity to deliver has become a source of social and political unrest in several countries.
The Political Space Created by Protests
Every democratic society must protect citizens’ right to express disagreement, organise peacefully, and demand accountability from their governments. Public protest has an important place in democratic life. It can bring neglected issues to national attention and compel governments to reconsider hardship-causing policies.
But a protest that begins with economic grievances can gradually become a platform for wider political ambitions. Different political groups may attempt to influence its direction, while external actors may see an opportunity to advance their own interests.
This possibility deserves attention, as not every protest is foreign-sponsored. Still, some recent uprisings, particularly in India through Gen Z protests, have been seen as a byproduct of foreign-policy differences.
Public dissatisfaction can therefore create an opening and put pressure on a government. Demands may move beyond employment, prices, and public services toward changes in government, political alignment, or foreign policy.
A country’s foreign policy is particularly vulnerable during periods of international turmoil, especially when internal political pressure mounts. Decisions involving energy supplies, international partnerships, sanctions and strategic relationships have long-term consequences. If the country makes such decisions hastily to satisfy immediate political pressure, it may compromise interests that require a more careful assessment.
Democracy Requires Patience as Well as Rights
The demand for immediate change, however, can sometimes overlook the complexity of governing a country. Every major policy decision involves competing interests. What benefits one part of society may cost another. What appears to be a short-term solution may create long-term difficulties.
The danger arises when people are encouraged to see only the immediate problem and are not allowed to understand the wider consequences of the proposed solution. This needs to be understood and addressed through broader public debate within and outside educational institutions.
We have also seen situations where protests have been followed by violence, loss of life, property damage, and disruption of economic activity. Businesses suffer, employment opportunities contract, and society bears the cost of recovery. In such circumstances, young people’s original grievances may remain unresolved while their families and communities face additional hardship, along with pressure from international players.
Foreign Policy in a Changing World Order
A change in one country’s foreign policy can affect the strategic calculations of several others. This is especially relevant for India, which must maintain relationships across competing international groupings while safeguarding its energy security, economic development, and strategic autonomy.
India cannot make its decisions without considering the wider international environment. Nor can it ignore the economic pressures its people face. The challenge is to reconcile domestic expectations with long-term national interests, rather than letting international pressure or immediate public anger become the sole basis for decision-making. This is a new normal for the present generation and cannot be kept separate from them.
Educating Gen Z for a More Complicated World
Young citizens should be encouraged to ask questions about these decisions, examine different arguments and hold their governments accountable. They should also be helped to distinguish legitimate criticism and political mobilisation from attempts to use public anger for purposes unrelated to the original grievance.
A Balance Between Aspiration and Responsibility
At the same time, young people must recognise that they cannot always resolve the difficulties confronting their countries through immediate political change. Nor should their legitimate aspirations become a convenient platform for domestic or international interests seeking to influence a country’s direction.
Democratic societies must balance rights and responsibilities, public demands and institutional procedures, and immediate relief with long-term national interests. A broader dialogue between younger generations and other parts of society about the inherited contradictions and dynamics of international politics is essential.
How Countries Should Engage with Gen Z: A Way Forward
The central message: Governments must ensure that Gen Z does not feel unheard, excluded or pushed into a dead end. Young people must, in turn, recognise that constructive dialogue, patience and participation can help turn their aspirations into practical outcomes. The responsibility is shared: protect the right to question, build confidence in the resolution process, and preserve the social harmony essential to every country’s future.
