PUBLIC anger does not appear overnight. Before people come out on the street, there are usually signs of frustration in classrooms, examination halls, government offices and other public institutions. The real challenge for any government is to recognize these signs and respond before a manageable issue turns into a larger problem.

France offers a recent example. Student protests that started over teacher shortages, crowded classrooms and poor educational facilities gradually developed into wider demonstrations. As the protests grew, clashes with police, arrests and incidents of violence made the situation more difficult. What started as concerns about education eventually became a much broader public issue.

India provides another useful example. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party first attracted attention through protests over examination........

© Pakistan Observer