The catastrophic violence in Nepal was not the result of a single issue but the product of a perfect storm where three distinct crises—economic, ethical, and political—converged at the same moment. This deadly confluence was then ignited by a single, reckless government decision.
The first element of the storm was an economic crisis of opportunity, specifically for the nation’s youth. A 20% unemployment rate created a vast depression of hopelessness and frustration that hung over the country, making the social atmosphere heavy and unstable.
The second element was an ethical crisis in governance. Rampant corruption and nepotism had led to a complete collapse of public trust. The people saw their leaders not as public servants but as a self-serving cabal, which fostered a deep and abiding rage. This moral decay created the powerful winds of public anger.
The third element was a political crisis of inequality, where the people felt a profound disconnect from a flaunting, out-of-touch elite. When the government introduced the social media ban—an act of authoritarian overreach—it acted as the trigger that caused these three storm fronts to collide. The resulting political hurricane has left a trail of destruction, demonstrating the devastating power of convergent crises.