Is there such a thing as a global mood? It certainly feels like it. I cannot remember a time when so many countries, all over the world, were gripped by some form of street protest or popular revolt. 2011 is turning into the year of global indignation.

The Arab spring at the beginning of the year set the tone – with the fall of the Tunisian and Egyptian regimes, now followed by the ousting of Muammer Gaddafi in Libya and the insurrection in Syria.

But milder forms of popular revolt are breaking out across the globe. Europe has experienced political riots in Athens, sit-ins in Madrid and looting in London. In India, thousands of demonstrators turned out across the country to support Anna Hazare, a social activist and hunger striker, who has panicked the Indian government into agreeing to new anti-corruption measures. China has seen public demonstrations and online protests sparked by a factory accident and a high-speed train crash. In Chile, the past two months have seen huge marches by students and trade unions demanding higher social spending. In Israel, the main boulevards of Tel Aviv have been occupied by ordinary people protesting against the cost of living.