The events in Nepal starkly illustrate that unchecked government corruption is not just a matter of ethics; it is a critical threat to national security. The recent violent explosion was the direct result of a system whose impunity and graft eroded public trust to the point of collapse, creating instability far greater than any external threat.
The foundation of this threat was laid over years as corruption and nepotism became the norm. This created a deep and pervasive public anger, fostering a sense that the state itself was illegitimate. This loss of legitimacy is the most dangerous condition a government can face, as it dissolves the social contract that ensures stability.
This ethical decay was intertwined with economic failure, most notably a 20% youth unemployment rate. The public connected the lack of opportunity directly to the corruption of the elite, believing that national resources were being stolen rather than invested in the future. This linked economic pain with moral outrage, creating a highly explosive mix.
The government’s decision to ban social media was the spark that lit this fuse. It was seen as an act by a corrupt elite to protect itself from public accountability. The violent response demonstrates the high price of impunity: when people believe their leaders are corrupt and above the law, they will eventually seek to overthrow that law itself, plunging the nation into chaos.
