The Global Protest Wave of the 2010s

Journalist Vincent Bevins explores the mass protest movements that occurred across the world between 2010 and 2020. These movements were often sparked by initial demands, such as a rise in bus fare in Brazil or police brutality in Egypt, but quickly grew into larger-scale protests. However, despite the initial optimism, many of these movements failed to achieve the intended outcomes. The author highlights the pattern of crackdowns by authorities, leading to a co-opting of the protests by well-organized and funded groups with different agendas. The example of Egypt's 2011 uprising, the subsequent military coup, and the rise of a right-wing leader illustrate this trend.