Towards A Democratic Nepal

Inclusive Political Institutions for a Multicultural Society
1. Auflage 2005
ISBN: 978-0-7619-3318-2
Verlag: SAGE Publications

Buch, Englisch, 345 Seiten, Format (B × H): 140 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 509 g

This book analyses the problem of the increasing political exclusion of ethnic, caste and gender groups in democratic Nepal and discusses its consequences for democracy and the stability of the country. While outlining alternative democratic institutions and proposing specific institutions that can include the diverse socio-cultural groups in Nepal, this book:

- analyses the Maoist insurgency, arguing that political exclusion was a major cause for its genesis and growth;

- examines the causes for the lack of democratic consolidation in Nepal;

- provides the first comprehensive critique of the 1990 Constitution, identifying it as an important factor leading to the political exclusion of ethnic groups;

- suggests the setting up of a new Constituent Assembly to address the social and political crisis in Nepal;

- makes important recommendations to shape an inclusive and democratic Nepal which include federalism; a powerful House of Nationalities; a proportional electoral system; affirmative action policies and reservations; declaration of a secular state; a centralized judicial review; and the protection of minority rights in the Constitution.

Overall, the author argues that unless Nepal's ruling elite becoms senstive to the needs of marginalized and excluded groups, the country could witness an escalation in violence.

Highlighting a wide range of issues crucial to strengthening democracy in Nepal, this book is of interest ot students and academics studing Nepal and South Asia.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lawoti, Mahendra

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Internationale Wirtschaft Entwicklungsökonomie & Emerging Markets

Inhaltsverzeichnis

PART ONE: THE PROBLEM: EXCLUSION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Political Exclusion in Democratizing Nepal
Exclusion and Violent Conflicts in Nepal
The Maoist Insurgency and Beyond
PART TWO: THE CONTEXT: MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY, POLITICAL EXCLUSION AND MAJORITARIAN INSTITUTIONS

Cleavages, Conflicts and Sociocultural Groups
The Constitution as the Source of Exclusion
Inclusion in Multicultural Societies
Accommodation through Power Sharing and Autonomy
PART THREE: A METHOD FOR INCLUSION: DEMOCRATIC DELIBERATION
A Method for Selecting Inclusive Democratic Political Institutions
The Process for Designing an Inclusive Polity
PART FOUR: THE SOLUTION: INCLUSIVE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Federalism and Group Autonomy
Group Rights, Public Policies and Inclusion
Proportionality
Inclusion though Equality and Justice
Constitutional Protection of Minority Rights
PART FIVE: THE FUTURE: A MULTICULTURAL DEMOCRATIC NEPAL
Multicultural Democracy
Congruence between the State and Society

Über Autor(innen)

Lawoti, Mahendra
Mahendra Lawoti, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. He is the author of Towards a Democratic Nepal: Inclusive Political Institutions for a Multicultural Society (Sage Publications, 2005, third reprint 2006, Nepali translation 2007), Samabesi Sambidhan Sabha ra Rajyako Punarsamrachan (Inclusive Constituent Assembly and Restructuring of the State) (NISP, 2007), Looking Back, Looking Forward: Centralization, Multiple Conflicts and Democratic State Building in Nepal (Fortcoming, Washington: East West Center) and many articles and book chapters. He is currently revising his dissertation into a book to be titled Exclusion in New Democracies: Nepal in a Comparative Perspective. Professor Lawoti is the President of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies and Non- Resident Associate Fellow of the New York-headquartered Asia Society. His teaching and research interests cover international development, democratization and political institutions, constitutionalism, ethnic politics, social movements and insurgencies, and South Asian politics.