Published Paper Details:

Generation Z has emerged as the first truly digital-native generation, transforming the nature, organization, and impact of student protest movements across the world. Unlike earlier generations, Generation Z combines social media mobilization with conventional forms of collective action, enabling rapid dissemination of information, transnational solidarity, and decentralized leadership. While digital platforms have expanded democratic participation and civic engagement, they have also intensified political polarization, misinformation, and the potential for protest escalation. Against this backdrop, the present study comparatively examines contemporary Generation Z student protest movements across selected countries--including India, the United States, Bangladesh, France, Serbia, and Indonesia--to understand variations in protest characteristics, ethical conduct, digital mobilization, and state responses. The study adopts a comparative cross-national qualitative research design supported by secondary data drawn from peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, government reports, media archives, and international human rights organizations. Using thematic content analysis, the study investigates four key dimensions: (i) the socio-political triggers of student protests, (ii) the role of digital platforms in mobilization and organization, (iii) adherence to or departure from principles of protest ethics, and (iv) governmental responses ranging from dialogue and negotiation to coercive policing and legal restrictions. The findings suggest that Generation Z student movements generally originate through peaceful digital mobilization centered on demands for educational justice, democratic accountability, and social equity. However, the trajectory of protests differs significantly across countries depending on political context, institutional responsiveness, and the nature of state intervention. Countries that prioritized dialogue, transparency, and participatory engagement were more likely to experience peaceful protest outcomes, whereas delayed responses, excessive use of force, or restrictive measures frequently contributed to protest escalation and social conflict. The study also demonstrates that digital technologies function as a double-edged sword, simultaneously facilitating democratic participation and accelerating polarization, misinformation, and emotional mobilization. The paper argues that sustainable governance of contemporary student movements requires balancing constitutional rights to peaceful protest with the responsibility to maintain public order through ethical, transparent, and proportionate state responses. By integrating perspectives from digital activism, social movement theory, protest ethics, and democratic governance, the study contributes to the growing scholarship on Generation Z political participation and offers policy recommendations for educational institutions and governments seeking constructive engagement with contemporary student activism.