A Recipe for Disaster: Mixing Unemployment, Corruption, and Censorship

If one were to write a recipe for political disaster, it would look remarkably similar to the recent events in Nepal. The government inadvertently combined several highly combustible ingredients—high youth unemployment, rampant corruption, and blatant censorship—creating a volatile concoction that exploded into violence.
The base ingredient for this disastrous recipe was economic desperation. Start with a large, frustrated youth population, marinating in the bitterness of a 20% unemployment rate. This ensures a constant source of agitation and a group of people who feel they have nothing to lose from instability.
Next, fold in a generous amount of systemic corruption and nepotism. This step is crucial, as it erodes public trust and fosters a powerful sense of injustice. To enhance this flavor, add a layer of flaunted inequality, allowing the mixture to simmer in resentment until the public’s anger reaches a boiling point.
The final, crucial step is to add the catalyst. In this case, the government chose censorship in the form of a social media ban. This act serves to trap all the building pressure, ensuring a violent explosion. The outcome in Nepal was not an accident; it was the predictable result of a dangerously flawed recipe.