What is it about?
Autonomous movements in southern Nepal have added a new layer of conflict to a volatile political situation. The Maoist armed uprising and pro-democracy movement that abolished the monarchy and initiated a republic unleashed sub-national aspirations for autonomy in the southern borderland region of Nepal.
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Why is it important?
Among the areas of contention are proposals to redraw internal political boundaries along ethnic lines and proposals to integrate proportional representation into Nepal’s democratic system. Both of these proposals have significant implications for the power balance between the Madhesi of the Terai and the centre in Kathmandu. The article also explores post conflict concessions by the new democratic government and the role that they have played in both diffusing and exacerbating conflict in the Terai. The Terai borderland’s role in Nepal’s geopolitical position relative to India and China is also considered
Perspectives
The concession of a unified “One Madhes” autonomous state is not desirable from the perspective of the central government, whoever is in control, as it would provide the Madesh with disproportionate power over the government through their territorial unity relative to other groups and by their ability to cut Kathmandu off from India. Developing trade linkages with China could lessen Kathmandu’s reliance on its ties to India but could also embroil Nepal in what appears to be mounting China-India strategic rivalry in the region. Strengthening the central state by forming a stable government that can effectively govern and provide economic development, health, education, and employment in the Terai, while addressing legitimate concerns of the Madhesi, could do much to diffuse a potentially volatile situation in the Terai in the future.
Professor sean mcdonald
Bentley University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Autonomy in the Southern Borderland of Nepal: A Formula for Security or Cause of Conflict?, Journal of Borderlands Studies, August 2013, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/08865655.2013.859808.
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