Are global protests growing over justice reforms and government accountability in democracies?

There are prominent protest movements in many democracies calling for fairer justice systems, stronger oversight and more accountable governments. But it is difficult to say that these protests are growing everywhere: the answer changes depending on the country, the time period and whether you measure the number of demonstrations, their size or how many people take part.

Recent examples include Kenya’s 2024 protests over a proposed finance bill and South Korea’s demonstrations after the declaration of martial law. In other places, public anger has focused on corruption, court independence, election integrity or demands for accountability after a public disaster. These movements share concerns about government accountability protests and judicial independence and reform, but they do not all have the same cause.

News coverage can make a surge in demonstrations feel global, even when activity is concentrated in a few countries. To judge whether protests are genuinely increasing, comparisons need consistent cross-country protest data over several years, and should separate peaceful rallies from other forms of unrest. A rise in anti-corruption demonstrations may also say something different from a rise in protests over court reforms or elections.

So the careful answer is: accountability and justice are recurring protest issues, and some recent mobilizations have been large and consequential, but a sustained worldwide increase is not established by a handful of highly visible examples. The underlying question is often whether people believe institutions will respond—and whether they still have ways to demand that they do.