Three decades of movements, uprisings, putsches and constitutions: Did they promote democracy?

This article attempts to explore the question of what has been achieved over the past three decades in terms of establishing democracy in Nepal. Strong criticism of the parties and politicians cannot be avoided.

When the people’s movement of 1990 swept away the authoritarian, non-party Panchayat system, an ostensibly democratic device to maintain absolutist royal power and control, many Nepalis had the impression that the age of democracy would now come to Nepal. A good 30 years later, the conclusion is sobering. Two major popular movements and a bloody Maoist insurgency have contributed to as many constitutions in these three decades, but these have proved unsuitable to prevent repeated coups or attempted coups. The democratic participation of the citizens is limited to their occasional right to vote, but inclusive and equal participation of Nepali society as a whole in the political decision-making process is still prevented by the ruling state elite.