The Himalayan nation of Nepal has endured internal conflicts through much of the
last two centuries but has exhibited resilience in the face of outright colonialism. However,
contemporary Nepal has been beset by internal strife, sparking considerable research from
social scientists. The overt causes of the conflict were ideological – between a centralized
monarchic system and a socialist egalitarian ideology. The intellectual influence on this
movement has come from the writings of Mao and the rebels have called themselves
’Maoists.’ The Maoists differentiate themselves from classical communists since the
strength of the proletariat in the former comes from peasantry rather than an urban workingclass.