File:FEDERALISM IN NEPAL- DIVERGENT PERCEPTION AND CONVERGENT REQUIREMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION (IA federalisminnepa1094532900).pdf

Democratization, decentralization, ethnic identity, federalism, rights of indigenous people and politics of consensus are often-used terms in the contemporary political debate in Nepal. Despite political consensus on federalism as the founding notion of the Interim Constitution (2007), political parties with Constituent Assembly have failed to forge consensus on the nature of federalism. This thesis analyzes the complexity of politics in multi-ethnic societies, and specifically, the rise of the ethnic politics and federalism agenda of political parties in Nepal. The lack of ethnic-specific regions makes the identity issue more complex given that the Maoist platform promised ethnic-specific regions in the country upon coming to power. The issue was made more complicated due to complex geopolitics, inter- and intra-party squabbles for power, and unhealthy party competition for political benefits and attention. This thesis also suggests that the solution to state restructuring rests on the political parties and their commitment to democratic procedures because federalization and democratization of the state are mutually supportive, a lesson learned from India and Spain. Only political understanding at the highest possible levels and compromise of political interests putting people and national agenda at the center can solve the present political impasse revolving around federalism.

Subjects: Federalism; Multi-ethnic Society; State Restructure; Constituent Assembly; Discrimination; Caste; Ethnic Identity; Maoist; Nepal; Federalization; Democratization; Peoples Movement; Interim Constitution.