The gap between rich and poor has reached historic highs. According to the World Inequality Report 2026, released in recent weeks, the richest 10% of the global population now receive 53% of all income and own a staggering 75% of all wealth.

The poorest half of humanity, meanwhile, receive just 8% of income and own 2% of wealth.

Looking at these stark figures, it is easy to assume such extreme inequality is a guaranteed recipe for revolution. If people are struggling to survive while a tiny elite prospers, you’d think they would eventually rise up.

However, history and data tell a more complex story. Many deeply unequal societies remain politically stable for decades, while others with moderate inequality erupt into chaos. Why does economic grievance boil over in some places but not others?

As geopolitical tensions rise – from the “Gen Z uprising” in Asia to civil unrest in the Middle East – understanding the trigger for conflict is urgent.

Our new study, published in the Scottish Journal of Political Economy, suggests inequality alone is rarely enough to drive instability. Instead, we found a crucial accelerant that transforms economic grievance into political action: the internet.

For years, political scientists have debated the link between inequality and conflict. Some studies found a strong connection; others found none.

To help solve this puzzle, we analysed data from more than 120 countries from 1996 to 2020.

We looked at income inequality (measured by the

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