Paradise Lost?

State Failure in Nepal

By (author) Ali Riaz, Subho Basu

Publication date:

16 April 2007

Length of book:

234 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

240x161mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780739114261

Paradise Lost examines the state-society relationships in Nepal and demonstrates that the nature of the state, disjuncture between the state and the society, and the rupture of the ideological hegemony of the ruling class of Nepal have created a situation where existing institutional frameworks are disintegrating and the state is rapidly unraveling. Dr. Ali Riaz and Dr. Subho Basu analyze the roles of ethnicity, identity, and deprivation, in engendering discontent and the rise of the Maoists as a formidable political force. Mindful of the geo-strategic importance of the country, this book contextualizes these domestic developments within the post-9/11 global world. Jointly authored by a political scientist and a historian this book brings together structural and historical perspectives. Written in an engaging language, Paradise Lost? will appeal to political scientists, historians, sociologists, and those interested in current affairs.

Chapter 1 Introduction: Understanding the Crisis in Nepal and State Failure
Chapter 2 State Formation and Political Transition in Nepal (1768-2005)
Chapter 3 Ethnicity and Politics in Nepal
Chapter 4 Economic Crisis and the Lack of Performance Legitimacy
Chapter 5 Maoist Insurgency and the Militarization of the Nepali Polity and Society
Chapter 6 Popular Uprising 2006
Chapter 7 Problems and Prospects
Chapter 8 Appendix 1: Nepal: The Fundamentals
Chapter 9 Appendix 2: Memorandum from UNPF to the Prime Minister
Chapter 10 Appendix 3: The Letter of Understanding Between the 7-party Coalition and the Communist Party of Nepal
Chapter 11 Appendix 4: The Eight-point Agreement between SPA and the CPN (M)

While Nepal is the oldest nation-state in South Asia, 'nation-building' is very much a work-in-progress. In the modern era which began in Nepal with the demise of the Rana shogunate in 1950, the country remained under an autocratic kingship till 1990. A 12-year democratic interlude was marked by a violent Maoist insurgency and followed by yet another royal adventure, which was finally crushed by the People's Movement of April 2006. The task of 'nation-building' has now resumed , with the goal of restructuring the state through a constituent assembly and a new constitution. Any place is complex, but Nepal is perhaps less understood than others in the South Asian neighbourhood. I believe that this work by Ali Riaz and Subho Basu will help in the understanding of a country that has seen the compressed political evolution over a few years that other countries of South Asia realised over decades. Only the analysis of Nepal as a thus-far failed state can make it a successful one.