The Rise of Ethnic Politics in Nepal

Susan I. Hangen's 'The Rise of Ethnic Politics in Nepal' challenges the common assumption that ethnic politics inherently threaten new democracies. Through extensive ethnographic fieldwork, this book argues that, in Nepal's context, ethnic movements, exemplified by the Mongol National Organization (MNO), can actually strengthen democratic processes.

Investigating the MNO's discourse and struggles to gain support in rural East Nepal during the 1990s, Hangen provides a window into grassroots democratization. The work offers a nuanced understanding of how ethnic parties operate, demonstrating their considerable overlap with social movements and suggesting a reconceptualization of the boundary between parties and movements. This analysis concludes that ethnic parties are not antithetical to democracy and that democratization proceeds in diverse, often unexpected, ways.

Why You Should Read?

• Understand how ethnic politics can strengthen, rather than destabilize, emerging democracies.
• Explore the dynamics of Nepal's significant indigenous nationalities movement.
• Gain insight into grassroots political mobilization and the processes of democratization in rural South Asia.
• Re-evaluate the distinctions between political parties and social movements through a compelling case study.