Politics of Identity and Democratic Transition in Nepal: An Assessment of the Role of Identity Politics in Promoting

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Master of Human Rights and Democratization
Title Politics of Identity and Democratic Transition in Nepal: An Assessment of the Role of Identity Politics in Promoting
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
Abstract
The study looks into the role of a monolithic identity politics in ensuring democratic participation of
varied groups of people broadly falling into that identity at various levels of social and political
mechanisms. The study analyzed three basic aspects of a monolithic identity referred as Madhesi identity:
i) the historical development of the identity movement and the major agendas carried by the movement
over the years; ii) the role of the movement in bringing policy shift in the national political landscape;
and iii) the role of the movement in ensuring the participation and representation of the number of
marginalized groups within the broader identity. Based on the qualitative methods, the research carried
out an in-depth interview with 30 people from Madhes and Katmandu and drew conclusions based on the
information and analysis gather through these interviews. The information is supported by secondary
sources of data and analysis. The research revealed that the Madhesi identity movement has been quite
successful in establishing Madhesi identity, their social dignity and political strength at the national level
and contributed in bringing major constitutional and policy shift in Nepali political landscape within the
short period of time (2006-20012). However, it revealed that it is too early to address the issue of
participation and representation within the Madhesi community under the prevailing social and class
structure and the political leadership dominated by the social and economic elite from the region.

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