ABSTRACT
Nepal is a diverse country with over 100 different caste and ethnic groups, speaking just as many languages and practicing ten different religions. It is home to Mount Everest and birthplace of Lord Buddha. The country has been struggling to consolidate an inclusive democratic political system for more than half a century. Between 1996–2006, it went through a violent Maoist conflict that killed over 17,000 people. In 2008, Nepal abolished a 240-year-old monarchy and introduced a new constitution in 2015, but fifteen years later it continues to be plagued by heightened political instability, corruption, and nepotism. Being landlocked and surrounded by China and India adds to Nepal’s vulnerabilities. What has been the cause of the failure of democracy in Nepal? What are the prospects for consolidation of an inclusive democracy in a highly diverse society? This chapter provides an overview of regime transitions and struggle for inclusion and extension of democratic rights in Nepal, focusing particularly on the political development of the country.
