Two months since the Gen Z uprising swept through the streets of Kathmandu, its energy still pulsates in national politics. What began as a youth-led uproar against corruption, nepotism and political stagnation has evolved into a powerful reminder of the disconnect between democratic principles and institutional realities. The protest did not merely express discontent but also exposed fundamental flaws in Nepal’s political system and deep structural malignance across Nepal’s political institutions, economy, social fabric and international standing.

To fully understand the extent of the crisis, one must look beyond the immediate political events and examine the deeper structural and cultural fragilities that underlie our political system. To borrow from political scientist Samuel Huntington, Nepal’s politics suffers from ‘high participation but low institutionalisation’. Nepali citizens are politically active and vocal in political discussions, with voter turnout averaging 65 percent. Yet, the institutions meant to channel this participation into stable and vibrant governance systems remain weak.

Since the restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepal has experienced 32 governments in approximately 35 years. That is barely more than one year per government. Some might see frequent changes in government as a sign of healthy democratic contestation. But when 32 governments fail to complete full terms, the phenomenon is an institutional weakness rather than democratic vitality.

This instability stems from fragile and premature coalition culture and a political class that views power-sharing as an end in itself rather than a means to effective governance. Since 2008, not a single government has completed a full five-year term in office. Public trust in institutions has eroded due to corruption, patronage and poor service delivery. Amid all this, leaders are frequently found ‘hopping and skipping’ between parties, shamefully presenting each reshuffle as a ‘revolutionary change’, while delivering little improvement in the daily lives of people.

Political splits and mergers are common in Nepal, giving rise to new factions or parties that reproduce the same patronage-based structures. This tendency has generated widespread political fatigue and disillusionment across generations.

Rebuilding trust in politics will require moving from patronage politics to performance and service delivery. The first step for transformation is cultivating the culture of accountability and ethical conduct. Equally important is the internal democratisation of the political parties. Parties should hand over power to the young generation, enforce transparency and practice ethical standards for leadership.

However, Nepal’s politics has drifted away from principled and visionary leadership. It is dominated by factional loyalty and short-term gains. To change this, politicians and political parties must build a political culture grounded in policy commitments rather than personal gains. Parties need to understand that political reform will not be achieved by swapping one leader for another, reorganising the leadership lineup, or through mergers and splits. True change can only come from completely transforming the way politics is done: By transforming both the system and the culture of governance.

Nepal’s political dysfunction seeps deeply into its economic life. From democratic struggles of the past to the most recent Gen Z uprising, economic grievances have consistently stood at the heart of Nepal’s political movements. Systemic corruption and short-term political calculations have turned Nepal’s economic potential into stagnation, inequality and mass migration.

Today’s generation is also exhausted by an economy that offers little employment opportunity or upward mobility. Nepal’s economy depends on exporting its human capital because the political system has failed to create employment opportunities at home. Over 2,000 young Nepalis leave the country daily for foreign employment. Youth unemployment stands at 21 percent, while remittances constitute over 25 percent of the GDP. The Gen Z protest has further augmented these challenges. Estimates suggest economic losses exceeding Rs50 billion due to business closure, property damage and disruption in supply during the protest. Tourism has fallen significantly, and foreign companies are less willing to invest.

To reverse this trajectory, Nepal must pursue targeted economic reform driven by technology, digital entrepreneurship and human capital development aligned with global trends in capital formation. If these economic wounds are ignored, they will further erode public trust, accelerate outward migration and weaken Nepal’s financial system to spark renewed instability.

The Gen Z protests have also exposed deep social and generational fault lines. The movement has widened a significant gap between a younger, digitally connected generation yearning for change and an older political establishment deeply attached to the status quo. The violence and security slips, including a mass prison break, during the protest underscore the fragility of state institutions. It has also intensified existing generational trauma among citizens who have previously experienced a decade of Maoist insurgency, multiple political instabilities and the 2015 earthquakes.

Meanwhile, parties show little confidence in Gen Z representatives and the interim government, deepening mistrust ahead of the March 2026 elections. To rebuild unity and cohesion, Nepal must ensure a sense of security and trust, strengthen civic and ethical education, promote responsible citizenship and create an intergenerational platform for civic engagement.

Rebuilding Nepal must also extend beyond domestic concerns. Political instability, frequent shifts in governments and corresponding shifts in foreign policy priorities have created an environment of diplomatic unpredictability that has weakened external confidence. A consistent, transparent foreign policy and consensus on core national interests that engages constructively with neighbours, particularly India and China, while asserting national sovereignty, is a must.

The Gen Z protests reflect a fundamental reimagining of democratic expectations. This generation rejects that democracy ends with electoral procedures and wins. They demand governments that deliver results, institutions that function with accountability and leaders that serve rather than rule. Political revival must ensure accountable and ethical leadership; economic reform must create opportunity and dignity rather than remittance dependency. Social rebuilding must strengthen our sense of civic responsibility. And our diplomacy must restore Nepal’s standing and credibility among its partners.