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Special Graduate Schools
Graduate School of International Studies
Department of NGO Studies
3. Theses(Master)
Federalism on the Basis of Ethnicity, Is Ethnic Federalism Viable in the Context of Nepal
- Author(s)
- Basnet Navaraj
- Advisor
- Iain Watson
- Department
- 국제대학원 NGO학과
- Publisher
- Graduate School of International Studies Ajou University
- Publication Year
- 2014-02
- Language
- eng
- Keyword
- Federalism; Democracy; Ethnic Conflict; Ethnicity
- Alternative Abstract
- ABSTRACT In the contemporary world, state restructuring has become a global phenomenon. In almost all corners of the world, there are currently efforts that aim at redesigning structures of states in response to demands of communities for increased participation in the politico-economic realm. In this context, federalism has become attractive to multiethnic countries as a way of maintaining balance between such lofty ideas as ‘self-rule’ and ‘shared-rule’ As a result, today many countries all across the world are experimenting with federalism and other forms of autonomy in order to resolve inter-ethnic conflicts and tensions. Nepal witnessed a major turning point in the arena of national politics since the early 1990s. One of the most important features of the political changes in the post-1991 period has been the recasting of the Nepali state into a multi-party democracy. In doing so, the country has constitutionally formalized democracy as a fundamental principle of state organization, representation and political mobilization. As a result, both ethnicity and governance experienced changes. This thesis analyses the impacts of democracy on ethnic conflicts in Nepal in general and in the Somali in particular by using comparative and empirical approaches. Nepal witnessed another turning point from 2006 AD( contemporary peace agreement between Maoists and Seven Party Alliance) 2008 election of constituent assembly focused on making permanent constitution and transitioning Nepal into a federalist democratic nation state with majority and minority leaders working toward common goals. One seemingly unforeseen issue was that primeval nationalism overshadowed modern nationalism. Primeval nationalism provided an exploitable seam for actors and internal ethnically driven leaders to create instability despite the efforts of the government. Under the confines, the rift between the ethnic groups seems to result in increased insecurity within the country and might lead to sectarianism. This thesis analyzed the federalism, whether we have potential to establish of ethnic provinces with security and governance, a multi-ethnic national government and ethnic conflict. This study broadly examines three key questions. First, it seeks to problematize the question of federalism and ethnic conflicts at the theoretical level. Second, it discusses factors such as conflicts and unequal ethnic relations that are leading to the reconstitution of the Nepali state into an ethnic federation. Third, it considers the impact of federalism on ethnic conflicts from two broad angles, intra-regional and inter-regional conflicts. In fact, as will be demonstrated in several chapters of this thesis, country being affected by conflicts that have been in one way or another intertwined with the federal restructuring of the country. This thesis concluded that federalism based on an ethnicity is not viable in Nepal. The solution to rising debate on ethnic based federalism is to provide each group an equal level of authority, identity and justice in the nation. The Nepalese government requires restructuring to provide equal sharing of power between different ethnic groups not as a means of ethnic based federalism but decentralization i.e. shifting authority to local government away from central government so that each unit of society can enjoy their rights. This thesis also examines contextual factors such as democracy and rule of law that explain the success and failures of federalist projects in striking the ‘right’ balance between unity and diversity. This is necessary to appreciate the gap that prevails between the theory and practice of Nepalese federalism.
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