Across the world, protests have often been associated with violence, destruction, and chaos. The belief that effective protests require struggles, killings, and the destruction of both private and public property is an outdated and counterproductive notion. In the 21st century, we must acknowledge that violent protests rarely lead to sustainable, long-lasting results. Historical and contemporary examples show that the more destructive the protest, the harder it is for societies to recover, and the less likely it is for meaningful change to occur.
Take, for instance, the Arab Spring, which began as a series of peaceful protests across the Middle East. In Tunisia, the birthplace of the movement, the initial protests were relatively peaceful, which eventually led to the resignation of the authoritarian president, Ben Ali. However, in countries like Libya and Syria, the movement quickly descended into violent conflict, resulting in civil wars that devastated entire nations. Libya, in particular, remains in a state of instability years after the fall of Gaddafi, with its economy, infrastructure, and social fabric in shambles. This illustrates that violent protests often set back progress by years, if not decades, leaving a country in worse shape than before.
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Similarly, Nigeria has witnessed the devastating impact of violent protests. The End SARS movement in 2020 began as peaceful demonstrations calling for an end to police brutality. However, as violence and looting escalated, the country suffered billions in damages to infrastructure and businesses. The aftermath of the protests: Nigeria was still grappling with even greater economic challenges, including higher unemployment rates and increased poverty levels. The damage caused by the violence overshadowed the original message of the protest, resulting in limited reform and progress.
Constructive Alternatives to Protests
Rather than resorting to violence, citizens should focus on constructive alternatives that promote dialogue, negotiation, and collaboration with leadership. One effective approach is sitting down with leaders at the round table and presenting a unified, well-articulated set of demands. Building a strong, organised force that cannot be easily overlooked by those in power is key to achieving meaningful change. This can be done by mobilising civil society, engaging in public discourse, and seeking international support for domestic causes.
For example, in South Africa, the anti-apartheid movement led by Nelson Mandela, although it began with violent resistance, eventually evolved into a strategy centred around negotiation and non-violent civil disobedience. By the 1990s, Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC) had successfully built a global coalition that pressured the apartheid regime through sanctions, boycotts, and diplomatic engagement. This non-violent approach ultimately led to the peaceful dismantling of apartheid and the establishment of democratic governance in South Africa.
In Taiwan, the 2014 Sunflower Movement is another example of how protests can be converted into positive growth. The movement began as a student-led protest against a trade agreement with China, which was feared to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty. The protest was peaceful, well-organised, and focused on raising public awareness and pressuring the government to reconsider its stance. The movement resulted in the withdrawal of the trade agreement and increased political engagement among Taiwan’s youth, leading to more transparent and accountable governance in the country.
The Economic Impact of Violent Protests
One of the major drawbacks of violent protests is that every destruction caused during the protest will eventually need to be rebuilt. This means taking two steps backward before moving forward, creating an endless cycle of destruction and rebuilding. Societies and communities that resort to violent protests rarely pick up quickly, and in some cases, they struggle for generations.
A prime example is Lebanon, a country where years of violent protests, coupled with political instability, have led to economic collapse. The destruction of key infrastructure during protests has hindered recovery efforts and exacerbated poverty. The country remains in a state of political and economic paralysis, with little hope for improvement in the near future.
Similarly, in Venezuela, anti-government protests turned violent over several years, resulting in widespread destruction, economic collapse, and a humanitarian crisis. The country’s infrastructure, economy, and social services are in disarray, and the violence has only deepened the divisions within Venezuelan society, making it harder for any meaningful reforms to take hold.
Dialogue and Economic Empowerment
It is important to note that after violent protests, citizens still have to return to the negotiation table to sort things out. This realisation calls for a shift in strategy—towards non-violent, constructive protests that focus on solutions rather than destruction. In this chapter, we will explore how protests can be redirected as tools for growth and development within a community or nation.
Protests must be articulated in ways that foster economic empowerment for citizens, addressing the root causes of discontent. The foundation of most protests is the impoverishment, poverty, and lack of opportunities among the population. In countries like Nigeria, poverty is a key driver of many societal vices, including insecurity, terrorism, and kidnapping. If protests can shift their focus to demanding economic reforms and empowerment for citizens, the energy behind these movements can be used to push for policies that create jobs, enhance social welfare, and improve access to education and healthcare.
For instance, in the United States, the civil rights movement not only sought to end racial segregation but also aimed to improve economic opportunities for African Americans. The movement led to the creation of various programmes and policies that helped reduce poverty and increase access to education and employment for marginalised communities.
Protests should not be dismissed as mere acts of dissent; they have the potential to serve as powerful tools for national growth and transformation. However, to achieve this, protests must evolve from being destructive forces to being constructive and solution-driven movements. By focusing on dialogue, negotiation, and economic empowerment, citizens can build the momentum needed to push for meaningful reforms and hold their leaders accountable. If protests can be channeled into efforts that enhance the socio-economic conditions of the populace, they will not only foster development but also create a more equitable and just society.