The Evolution of Public Protests: A Study of the July 2025 Nationwide Strike
Examining the Diminished Impact of Labour Movements in a Digitally Connected Era
Explore the ineffective nationwide strike of July 2025, its implications on labour movements, and how the digital age has transformed public protests. Discover why traditional tactics no longer resonate and the factors contributing to a lack of popular support.
A recent nationwide strike organised by various trade unions on Jul 9, 2025, aimed to bring the country to a halt. However, reality checks suggest that the protest proved largely ineffective in disrupting attendance across several sectors. While some industries experienced a noticeable decline in employee presence, the overall functioning of the economy remained largely unaffected. This lack of disruption, despite the widespread call for the strike, raises questions about the current state of labour movements and the societal implications of such protests.
The banking sector, often a key target for such demonstrations, experienced the highest rate of absenteeism, estimated at around 33%. While this figure indicates a noticeable level of participation, it did not significantly hinder the overall functioning of banks. This suggests that despite the calls for a complete shutdown, a significant portion of the workforce chose to prioritise their work over participation in the strike.
The landscape of public protest has undergone a profound transformation over the past three and a half decades. Looking back to the 1990s, a common tactic for expressing dissent involved targeting obvious public infrastructure, such as the railways and roadways. These disruptions, often causing significant inconvenience and economic impact, were a hallmark of that era's activism.
However, the general strike witnessed in July 2025 painted a drastically different picture. Far from the roaring disruptions of yesteryear, it proved to be a subdued and largely ineffective demonstration. Several critical factors contributed to this diminished impact. Many of the seasoned leaders from the earlier breed of activists have aged, losing the vigour and widespread influence necessary to effectively mobilise large swathes of the population. This shift in leadership dynamics has had a significant impact on the effectiveness of labour protests.
Furthermore, the country itself has progressed immensely, particularly since 2014. A key driver of this change has been the unprecedented penetration of the internet, now reaching over 90% of the population. This digital revolution has fundamentally transformed the way information is disseminated and how activism is conducted. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for organising and mobilising people, resulting in a significant shift toward social media-driven movements. This shift has had a profound impact on the effectiveness of traditional protest tactics.
The year 2025 is unequivocally not the same as 1990. The tactics that once guaranteed widespread attention and disruption no longer resonate with the same force. The public, now more digitally connected and accustomed to different forms of engagement, responded to the traditional strike with a notable lack of enthusiasm, rendering it a whimper rather than a roar.
This incident, among others, highlights a crucial point: for a strike to be truly effective, it must have the strong backing of the populace and a clear articulation of grievances that resonate with a significant segment of society. In this instance, it appears the trade unions failed to garner such widespread support, leading to a protest that was more of a whimper than a roar.
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