Middle-Class Uprising Poses a Global Threat

The world’s greatest source of instability might not be terrorism but a middle class angered by vanishing prosperity, the loss of a lifestyle with many comforts and protections, argues John Paul Rathbone for the Financial Times. He points to an observation of journalist Moisés Naím, that most recent conflicts are within rather than between civilizations. In developed and developing countries alike, resentment is building over reduced and uneven distribution of benefits among generations and classes. In particular, the young confront a bleak future of unemployment, rising inequality and a deteriorating environment; some take to the streets with protests and others target major institutions with disruptive online attacks. In Chile, more than 100,000 students took to the streets in June. Rathbone quotes Chile’s leader who observes: “Our institutions, our leadership, are being tested by citizens who are more empowered, who are demanding greater participation and, above all, greater equality.” – YaleGlobal