Gen Z: The Youth Who Refuse to Be Spectators of Power - Dev Ramano: "Young People Can Decide Their Future"

Gen Z is the youth born after 2000, characterized by their hyperconnectivity, responsiveness, and intolerance of injustice. From Santiago to Kathmandu and from Warsaw to Manila, this generation has shaken governments, challenged institutions, and imposed new political values. Their tools: the streets and social media. Their principles: meritocracy, transparency, and good governance. Though their approach is often spontaneous and can sometimes lead to confrontation, wherever they rise, the youth mark a historical turning point.

In many countries, youth-led movements have overturned regimes or sparked profound reforms. In Nepal, the "torch youth" challenged deep-rooted corruption, while in the Philippines, mobilizations against social inequalities redefined the relationship between leaders and citizens. In Europe, climate marches have intensified pressure on governments for concrete commitments. While varied, these movements share a common message: a generation refusing to be passive.

Historian and political observer Jocelyn Chan Low notes that this wave is reminiscent of certain episodes in Mauritian history: "Gen Z resembles the student strike movement of May 1975. If youth are often silent, the current global movement demonstrates that sometimes it is up to young people to take matters into their own hands and effect change."

He points out a contextual difference: "In Mauritius, revolutions are not really on the agenda due to a unique demographic situation. We have an aging population, a youth often abroad for studies or work, and let’s not forget the drug epidemic that affects a part of this generation. Most countries that have experienced mass protests are predominantly young, often marked by a revolutionary past and fragile democracies. Here, despite the challenging context, our democracy functions."

Ideological Break

While he acknowledges that the global Gen Z movement pushes for more transparency and nourishes hopes for better governance, the historian also warns of side effects: "The movement fights for change, but often it’s not Gen Z who takes the reins. Social crises and national disruptions sometimes leave invisible scars. There are many inequalities in Mauritius where youth feel disconnected, but we adapt to a political system that goes in circles."

For lawyer and activist Dev Ramano, this movement is part of a larger ideological break. He even references the flag from the manga One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda, which he sees as a global symbol of resistance against political clientelism.

"Gen Z, through its movement, has shown that young people can decide their future and that neoliberalism is no longer what it used to be. Most of these countries have experienced years of dictatorship, corruption, and social crises without any sustainable solution being found. Causing change in the world and its politics is one thing, but what comes next?" he analyzes.

To him, real change does not lie in replacing elites but in overhauling the system itself: "Change is not about swapping our politicians for others, but about bringing a clear, systemic vision with all the necessary dimensions. In Mauritius, we have our youth, but can they provoke real change? Only time will tell. Before thinking about revolutionary acts, we must first restore trust in our institutions and workers, and put an end to the long-tolerated barbarity in our system."

Ultimately, Gen Z may not have taken to the streets of Mauritius yet, but they are already shaping mindsets. On campuses, in offices, and in digital spaces, they are redefining the codes of debate, engagement, and civic responsibility.