Nepal’s tumultuous political history is the focus of Lok Raj Baral’s latest book, Nepal: From Monarchy to Republic, which charts the country’s journey from its political unification in 1769 to its present status as a federal democratic republic. The veteran author and political scientist charts the seismic shifts that have fundamentally changed Nepal’s politics, society and structure as a state.
The book kicks off with an explanation of King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s military conquests in the 18th century, which laid the groundwork for the unification of Nepal. The creation of a unitary state from a mixture of minor principalities and small territories was not without its challenges, nor opposition. It was here which saw the start of concentration of power and wealth in the Kathmandu Valley, a dynamic that has persisted to the present day and continues to hamstring Nepal’s development. The book then moves on to provide an analysis of the politics of the Rana regime, autocratic rulers who ran Nepal like their own personal fiefdom for 104 years with scant regard for political freedoms nor tolerated political opposition. Nepal’s nascent democracy, starting in 1951 after the fall of the Ranas, was barely underway before it was interrupted by party-less Panchayat rule which lasted from King Mahendra’s coup in 1961, until the restoration of democracy during the 1990 People’s Movement .
Post-1990, Baral provides a nuanced account of the political landscape marked by mistakes, political schisms and the internal party squabbles that dominated Nepal’s first six years of its return to democracy. The decade-long Maoist insurgency which started in 1996 and its ramifications on domestic politics receives extensive analysis, as does King Gyanendra’s political misjudgements during the insurgency, his attempt at autocracy culminating in his coup of 2005 which saw the erosion of support from the Nepal Army, which contributed to the demise of the centuries-old monarchy, ultimately paving the way for the establishment of a republic after the comprehensive peace agreement saw the end of the insurgency in 2006.

As the pace and scale of Nepal’s political changes are so vast, it could be challenging to analyze or draw comparisons, but Baral’s choice of structure makes this easier. Contrary to a traditional narrative history, Baral employs a non-linear approach, weaving analysis from contemporary comparative examples throughout the narrative. By jumping from events 200 years ago to the modern day, and analyzing the legacy of past events, he makes a strong case for how one cannot understand contemporary Nepali politics without first having a comprehensive understanding of its political history.
Baral pulls no punches when it comes to unflinching analysis of political figures and institutions. He states how
Nepali democracy has passed through intermittent breakdown and disjuncture due to intervention of ambitious monarchs and political leaders’ lack of vision, commitment and unity.
Political parties are run by “septuagenarians who lack dynamism and vision.” This lack of effective leadership explains the internal strife within parties and the factionalism that has rendered the lack of creation of an effective political opposition a recurrent theme in Nepali politics since the 1950s.
As Baral discusses the birth pangs of Nepal as a nation-state, he shows the direct implications on Nepal’s ongoing struggle for diversity and representation in crucial state bodies. This has been seen nowhere more prominently than debates around Federalism, a process designed to remove power from the capital, and empower communities around the country, but many years later, its effectiveness remains limited and implementation remains contested. The book questions its compatibility with Nepal’s “historical and political cultural realities” as Baral highlights the persistent issues in its implementation, pointing out that political actors seem ill-prepared to make the federal system work effectively. Other key thematic issues that have shaped Nepali politics are also examined, such as the challenges of social movements, development, the pervasive issue of inequality and the continued misfiring of Nepal’s economy.
Incorporating comparative analyses of the 2017 and 2022 elections, Baral explores the power dynamics and the rise of new political movements, such as the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which made significant strides in the 2022 general elections. This party is led by former television presenter and shock jock Rabi Lamichhane, who is now Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister.
Eschewing theoretical jargon, the author communicates plainly; this is key to the book’s ability to discuss over 250 years of political history in just over 200 pages. Clarity and conciseness are key attributes of the book’s focus on such a vast topic. As Baral states
spectacular changes have taken place in Nepal since the 1950. Many expected things didn’t happen and instead many unexpected developments were observed.
Despite its short length, Nepal: From Monarchy to Republic offers a sharp analysis of Nepal’s political history as well as its contemporary political culture.
For those new to Nepal’s history, this is a condensed one-volume introduction that serves as an excellent primer; for those already well-versed in Nepal’s history, Baral’s insights into contemporary political issues provide valuable perspectives and new insights on familiar territory.
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