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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Anatomy Of A State A scholar examines Nepal's
politics, constitution and government By A CORRESSPONDENT During its five-decade history of political development, Nepal has seen severe vicissitudes that have gone on to define its character as a state. The country has experimented with five constitutions and two radically different political systems. Although several scholars have written on the rapid movement of political events, few have discussed their consequences. Dr. Ram Kumar Dahal latest book "Politics, Constitution and Government of Nepal" helps to fill that gap. Dr. Dahal, who has published a number of books on constitutional and political development in Nepal, this time focuses on students of master's degree. He discusses, among other things, the historical and economic dimensions of the country's political development process. From Nepalese political culture to political socialization in Nepal, Dr. Dahal explains constitutional development and institutional evolution within a palpable framework of the country's political instability. The book is written in Nepali for the benefit of the broadest possible range of master's degree students. In his quest to identify the weaknesses and strengths of political parties, Dr. Dahal follows the nature and characteristics of Nepalese politics along with its trends and history. The book provides a clear view of the difficulties and challenges faced by Nepalese society in the course of political evolution. Dr. Dahal highlights the role of caste and class in the nation-building process and discusses the role of religion, language and culture. Following the restoration of democracy, the country has witnessed a sudden upsurge of group assertion based on ethnicity and language. In view of these new realities, Dr. Dahal gives significant attention to the scale of the challenges faced by the country. Nepal has experimented with and discarded four constitutions and the latest is already in trouble. Dr. Dahal explains the concept of constitutionalism and the social changes that contributed to introduction of the new constitution. The evolution of constitutionalism in Nepal has been full of trauma and upheaval. Dr. Dahal discusses the reforms undertaken at different times to avert political crises. The history of political parties in Nepal is very short. The people started to oppose though political organizations just in the middle of the 20th century. Lack of literacy, rampant poverty and isolation kept Nepalese away from the liberalism process that gripped the world. Dr. Dahal has made a serious endeavor in highlighting the difficulties Nepal has faced in the development of political parties. The formation of Praja Parishad, Nepali Congress, Nepal Communist Party and their early efforts to popularize their cause provide a vivid glimpse of the painful birth of organized politics. One of the achievements of five decades of democracy in Nepal is the frequent elections that have been held at the national and local levels. Even during the partyless Panchayat days, Nepalese took part in elections. Following the restoration of democracy in 1990, the country has seen three national and two local elections. Apart from people's participation, Dr. Dahal also discusses the issues of power and legitimacy. In his observation, successive governments have faced challenges to their legitimacy. Dr. Dahal draws the conclusion that democratization is a very difficult process that requires time and maturity. A perfect political system may be an ideal, but striving to get one helps to refine democratic practices. The book should prove helpful to master's degree students, researchers and scholars alike. Politics, Constitution and
Government of Nepal |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
