In Defence of Democracy : Dynamics and Fault Lines of Nepal\'s Political Economy
Contents: Foreword. Preface. I. Historical perspective: 1. Political economy of National unification. 2. The Rana Shogunate. 3. The 1950s: towards modernization. 4. Panchayat, politics and economy. II. Democracy and Development: 5. Plans and reforms. 6. Performance and delivery (I). 7. Performance and delivery (II). III. Critical issues and fault-lines: 8. The legacy of exclusion and neglect. 9. The Arun III debacle. 10. The refugee impasse. 11. Corruption perception. 12. The \'Development catalyst\'. 13. Security cost: on the South Asian Path? 14. The Maoist War. 15. Political deadlock. 16. Fault lines. 17. Bottom line and the future. Select bibliography. Index.
"The post-1990 democratic dispensation of Nepal evokes mixed reaction. Especially after the Royal move of 1 February 2005, a well orchestrated campaign has been launched to smear the period as a failure. The book represents an attempt to provide an objective evaluation of this period.
Tracing the evolution of the country\'s political economy since the national unifications, the book asserts that this was the only period in the country\'s history that empowered the forgotten rural masses which represent the new foundation of political power. The period not only witnessed political freedom; but as the author argues with irrefutable facts and evidences, the economic conditions of the people improved and poverty declined. The book blends the narration of major development policies, processes, and performances with the author\'s account of behind-the-scene happenings of which he was not just a witness, but an active participant.
The book gives a frank assessment of critical issues and fault lines in the national polity, social order and economic system which surfaced during this time. The author\'s insight about the Maoist war and the current political standoff is refreshing. The book sheds further light on where the nation, as we know today, came from and identifies the emerging challenges in an attempt to offer a direction for the future." (jacket)
