Publication

This paper analyzes Nepal's past to derive guidelines for the future in the context of a planned new constitution through a Constituent Assembly. It seeks answers to the questions: Why did Nepal encounter multiple conflicts and crises during the 1990-2002 democratic period? And what can be done to avoid similar conflicts and crises in the future? It argues that overcentralization of the polity was the underlying cause of the multiple violent and nonviolent conflicts and crises confronting Nepal. Further, the author stipulates that overcentralization contributed to the abuse of power, corruption, erosion of democratic institutions, and governmental instability.