Post-Gen Z Movement: And Geopolitics

                     Post-Gen Z Movement: And Geopolitics

Dr. Khimlal Devkota

Member of the Constituent Assembly and Senior Advocate

1.     Nepali Perspective

In 27 hours, not only did the government change, but also the state's heritage sites, including Singha Durbar, Parliament Building, and Supreme Court, as well as the President's Residence, created panic. During this period, Nepali society has had to suffer from criminal acts such as the surrender of the regular security mechanism, the lack of mobilization of the army, and the release of nearly 13,000 prisoners from prisons, arson, and vandalism. The public opinion has become that the Gen Z demonstration on the 22nd is right, but the criminal acts on the 24th are stupid. Whatever the case, the power in Nepal has changed; whether it is local or foreign, it is true. So what? The main question is. What is even more strange is that due to the Gen Z in Nepal, the Nepali flag has started being used in other movements around the world. Nepal’s economy, politics, and diplomacy have been shattered, but the world is now at the cusp of a historic social, technological, and political transformation. The generation after millennials, known as post-Gen Z or Gen Alpha, is creating new social movements around the world with their unique identities, values, and perspectives. This generation has grown up amidst digital natives, climate change, economic inequality, and global unrest. But are these changes redefining the geopolitical landscape at the center of international relations? And what impact is this having on a small but strategically important country like Nepal?

2.     Post-Gen Z: A New Political Consciousness

The post-Gen Z movement is not just a trend that goes viral on social media. It is the emergence of a collective consciousness, driven by distrust of traditional political structures, demands for transparency and accountability, and a sense of global citizenship. For them, issues of humanity, the environment, and social justice are bigger than national borders. This is challenging the old concepts of ‘state’ and ‘territory’ at the heart of conflict. But does this mean that geopolitical ambitions are over? A serious question has arisen.

Geopolitics is not immune to this influence. At a time when the state is struggling to find out who hosted the app called Discord, which allows nearly two hundred thousand people to participate and vote on the prime minister, it must be said that this new generation is challenging traditional power centers with its digital skills and global networks. For example, while cryptocurrencies and the digital economy have questioned the economic sovereignty of nations, the voices of young people for climate justice are creating pressure on international policymaking. But despite this, nations remain the main unit of international relations, and this is determining the nature of geopolitical competition.

3.     Nepal: New moves in an old game

Nepal’s geopolitical location has always been a source of both its strength and its challenge. Maintaining a balance between its two powerful neighbors—India and China—has been the cornerstone of Nepali foreign policy. The recent activities of this generation, which accuse the established politics of playing the North or South card for itself but never playing its own card, have added new complications to this balance.

1. Digital diplomacy and soft power: The new generation believes in the free flow of information. Social media, online platforms, and digital content are now the main weapons for countries to project their soft power. Initiatives like China’s ‘Digital Silk Road’ or India’s ‘Digital India’ are not just about economic cooperation, but also a means of spreading their culture, values, and influence. Nepali youth are the target of these digital flows. Which country’s culture, educational opportunities, and digital platforms are effective in them not only determine the image of their country in Nepal but also threaten to dominate the governance. This necessitates Nepal to play a very conscious and proactive role in its digital diplomacy and cybersecurity policy.

2. Climate Change: A New Geopolitical Front: For post-Gen Z, climate change is not an abstract threat, but an existential threat to their future. In a Himalayan country like Nepal, the threat of melting glaciers, erratic weather, and its impact on agriculture make it imperative to place this issue at the center of national security. This has added a new dimension to the geopolitical equation. Climate stability in the Himalayan region is equally important for the entire South Asia and the world at large. Therefore, it is important to establish that climate finance, soft technology transfer, and international cooperation in adaptation are not just a development issue for Nepal, but are now becoming a strategic and diplomatic tool. Nepal can establish itself as a leading voice for ‘climate justice’, thereby increasing its geopolitical importance on the international stage.

3. Economic interdependence and youth aspirations: Nepal’s youth are forced to migrate abroad for employment, entrepreneurship, and quality education. This has made foreign employment and the contribution of Nepali expatriates to the economy increasingly important for Nepal. But this movement does not expect it to continue. In the post-Gen Z era, economic relations will also have to become part of geopolitical competition. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) the ‘Neighborhood First’ policy is trying to keep Nepal in its sphere of influence. It is important to send a message that the new generation is not ready to accept these projects blindly. They should be transparent, mutually beneficial and environmentally friendly. The challenge for Nepali politics is not just to maintain a balance between the two neighbors, but to develop the ability to cooperate with both practically in the interest of the Nepali nation, keeping Nepal’s economic interests and the aspirations of the youth at the center.

 

4.     Implications for Nepali Politics: A Call for Change

It is important to send a clear message that Nepal’s internal politics is not ready to adopt this changing geopolitical landscape against the interests of its own country. The parties’ service-oriented rather than convenience-oriented politics, opaque lifestyles, corruption, and indifference are the main factors of today’s situation. Inter-party conflicts, the delay in implementing basic constitutional provision,s even a decade after the promulgation of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic, and the tendency to keep the youth out of the policy-making process have brought Nepal to this point. In this changing world, it is important to understand that politics that ignore the Gen Z generation will only create crises and dangers.

1 Youth Participation: Aside from the current movement, the voice of post-Gen Z in Nepali politics is negligible. The failure to include the views of the youth in policy-making, foreign policy, and economic plans is a major weakness for Nepal. It is important to be careful not to miss out on a huge opportunity by ignoring their global perspective, technological expertise, and new ideas.

2 Information Warfare: Due to its strategic location, Nepal can become an information warfare battlefield. Various external forces can try to influence the opinions and perceptions of Nepali citizens using social media and digital media. To avoid this, Nepal must learn from the Gen Z movement that it should promote media literacy and critical thinking.

3 Clear and Long-Term Foreign Policy: Nepal needed a transparent and long-term foreign policy based on its national interests, even more so today. Rather than a balance between two neighbors, a ‘best friend’ policy should be adopted. Nepal must learn to use its climate, water resources, and cultural heritage as its geopolitical capital.

5.     Conclusion: A crossroads of opportunities and challenges

Geopolitics is on the verge of change, but this change is not the end of state-centered power competition; it is its transformation. The post-Gen Z movement is strongly warning states that their policies and actions will now be measured not only by military or economic power, but also by human rights, environmental sustainability, and good governance. For Nepal, this is a historic opportunity. This country, located between two major economies and powers, cannot let its strategic location become a curse, but rather a gift from nature. For this, Nepal must politically empower its greatest asset—the power of youth. The old thinking, the old politics, and the old diplomacy will no longer work. It is necessary to prepare a new geopolitical strategy, keeping in mind what the new world expects from Nepal, and what the Nepali youth expect from their country. If we can do this, Nepal can stand as a stable, prosperous, and proud nation in the world. It can also contribute to changing world politics, which is on the verge of change. If we fail to do this, the danger of becoming a pawn in the geopolitical game will remain even more acute.