Li-Li Chen – Recent years have witnessed the rise of what some have termed the "Gen Z movement" – a wave of activism from young people born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s.
This generation, raised on digital platforms, smartphones, and social media, has witnessed rapid social, economic, and political shifts. Since the late 2010s, Gen Z, fed up with the failures of governments and politicians, has led a wave of revolt and protest against systemic injustices. The unrest has quickly spread across Asia, with countries like Hong Kong, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Philippines seeing youth-driven uprisings.
In many of these regions, the social contract has been torn apart by corruption, poverty, and the intolerance of ruling elites. Young people who were once marginalized have decided they will no longer stay silent. They are demanding greater accountability, transparency, and reform from the older generations in power. So far this year in Southeast Asia, Indonesian youth have flooded the streets to protest the extravagant lifestyles of politicians and the brutal tactics used by the state, while Filipinos have engaged in street protests against their country's endemic corruption. Meanwhile, in Timor-Leste, a peaceful demonstration organized by students and activists outside the national parliament called for the cancellation of luxury car purchases and lifetime pensions for retired lawmakers.
Youth protest in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste, the newest nation in Southeast Asia, is set to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) later this month. With over 70 percent of its population under the age of 35, the country has faced significant challenges since gaining independence in 2002. Despite promises of prosperity and freedom, democracy has failed to address deep-seated issues like poverty, malnutrition, and underdevelopment in crucial sectors such as healthcare and education. The country struggles with economic inequality, leaving many people, especially the young, feeling left behind. While more than 40 percent of the population lives in multidimensional poverty, the country's lawmakers earn up to $36,000 per year, a stark contrast to the $115 monthly salary of many workers. This disparity has led to rising frustration and, ultimately, protests from the younger generation.
This frustration reached its peak last month, driven by mounting anger over ongoing corruption, budget mismanagement, and widening social, economic, and digital divides. Almost 69 percent of the youth aged between 18 and 34 have access to the internet, compared to just 11 percent of those older than 55, according to a recent Tatoli! survey. These digital-savvy youth harnessed the power of social media to organize and amplify their protests.
On September 15, more than 1,000 university students and political activists gathered in front of the national parliament to protest the government's recent decision to buy $4 million worth of new SUVs for lawmakers. Their demands included a halt to the car purchases and a revocation of politicians' lifetime pensions. They also demanded that the government amend the law on public demonstrations and invest in the development of productive sectors of the economy. The next day, tensions escalated when protesters burned tires and a government vehicle, while the police responded by firing tear gas. Despite the clashes, their movement gained attention within parliament. On September 17, representatives from five political parties met with student leaders to discuss the cancellation of pensions. A unanimous vote on September 25 resulted in the cancellation of lifetime pensions for the retired lawmakers.
Some commentators have argued that the recent wave of youth-led digital uprisings represents a fresh and disruptive form of activism. Unlike traditional political engagement through political parties or parliamentary systems, Gen Z is organizing quickly and effectively via social media. Using memes, reels, music, art, and, of course, street protests, they are holding governments accountable and demanding change. In Timor-Leste, this trend is visible, albeit with some unique twists.
While it's true that Timor-Leste's youth are utilizing social media to unite and share their discontent, their activism is rooted in a long history of resistance to exploitation and injustice. From the colonial era, when Timorese youth used underground radio and television broadcasts to resist Indonesian oppression, to today's digital platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp, the country's youth have always found ways to voice their frustrations. Today's protestors are fighting against elitism, nepotism, and corruption, and they aim to influence state agendas to bring about good governance, accountable budgeting, economic diversification, and social justice.
Opportunities for youth political participation
This movement has already succeeded in turning online debates into concrete policy action. Instead of just a brief outburst of anger, the recent protest appeared to mark a turning point in how young people in Timor-Leste are engaging with politics. New forms of activism are emerging, combining traditional street demonstrations with digital organizing, online videos, photos, and commentary. While these movements have prompted an immediate political response, their long-term sustainability is uncertain. Whether these uprisings lead to lasting structural change depends on continued pressure; nevertheless, they could also backfire, considering the risks of reducing public support, prompting conservative and suppressive responses, as well as widening social divides and political instability.
For their movement to gain traction in deeper and sustainable ways, the youth will need to clarify their political stance, strategies, and ideologies. Their engagement with the state and the elites who control most of the country's power will be critical. If they are satisfied with the current system and simply want to monitor the government's accountability, they may settle for being watchdogs. However, if they seek real inclusion in political decision-making, they may need to create their own youth-led parties or civic groups. And if they lose faith in the system entirely, they might demand an alternative form of governance. Whatever direction they choose, the youth must reflect on their role in the political landscape – whether as monitors, decision-makers, or partners in power-sharing – to draft strategies for addressing the country's deep social and political inequalities.
To ensure the viability of collective action, the youth need to articulate a consistent political narrative and ideology. For instance, many protesters have turned to Marxism and socialism as alternatives to capitalism and its exploitative dynamics. But what do these ideologies mean in the context of Timor-Leste? Marxism, socialism, social democracy, and communism each carry different implications, and some are not necessarily antagonistic to capitalism. The youth need to clearly define what they stand for before advancing any political agenda. In addition, they have to craft strategies to mitigate the risks.
Social media has been an essential tool for Timor-Leste's Gen Z, giving them global connections and local insights that have fortified their activism. However, as powerful as social media is for spreading information and increasing salience, it also comes with risks, such as misinformation, manipulation, hate speech, and online harassment. Initiatives for increasing digital literacy and awareness of online security threats to ensure that these tools aren't misused need to be further developed and implemented. Additionally, there is a significant digital divide between urban and rural areas, which could exclude many poor young people from participating in the political process. Bridging these gaps requires strong collaboration and cooperation among youth, government, and relevant stakeholders.
Challenges ahead
Despite some recent government efforts, such as the National Action Plan for Youth 2023-27, Timorese youth still face numerous barriers in the political, social, and economic spheres. The current political system, which is plagued by corruption, clientelism, and limited leadership transition for younger generations, offers few opportunities for meaningful youth participation. In local politics, where traditional and modern governance systems intersect, youth and women are often marginalized.
More concerning is the lack of access to education, healthcare, and employment, which further disenfranchises the youth and prevents them from playing a significant role in the nation's future. For example, 42 percent of young men and 49 percent of young women in Timor-Leste are neither in school nor in training, nor are they employed. Meanwhile, more than 60 percent of the country's GDP is spent on non-productive items, such as wages, subsidies, and social transfers to the public sector, leaving little for long-term investments in infrastructure, education, and healthcare that are crucial for youth development.
Creating space for youth civic and political engagement is key to transforming the recent symbolic victories into structural change. More young people need to be represented in parliament and local government. More importantly, government spending must prioritize investments in infrastructure, education, and healthcare rather than the interests of the few. Removing structural barriers and safeguarding the freedom of speech and expression for youth will require strong political will and genuine structural reform. As previous history shows, if the ruling elites are slow to respond or continue to meet youth demands with violence, young people may not hesitate to push for radical change. Now is the time for the current political leadership to prepare for a power transition, giving way to a future that's more inclusive and just for all.
Source: https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/the-gen-z-movement-comes-to-timor-leste