22 December 2021, NIICE Commentary 7584
Rajeev Kunwar
Transitional politics in Nepal is never-ending as it seems to be a phenomenon changing its contours and nuances. There is constant reminder and signals from everyday politics which reflect overarching principles, norms and values of democracy. It has always been contested in this part of the world. Liberalism, socialism, and communism are constantly jockeying our political space. With an emphasis on ideology, principles based on it are difficult to realize. When society is in a constant flux of new trends and transformations influenced by the ICT, there has been a wide schism between the individual and society. Individuals as its unit are fluid that exhibit perpetual resentment against the authority and social-state nexus crumble down as indiscipline enters on resulting political cleavages.
It is now very difficult to maintain a balance of internal legitimacy and external policy influences where taming the Nepalese state under the matrix of international society is exacting and exhaustive in public policy. Unless they excel in political vocation and are ever ready to accept change with dynamism in the functioning of the system, Nepal is experiencing discrepancies in realizing political behavior and peace politics. It would be a widening rift about entitling freedom that alone is inadequate in transforming the lives of the people. In Asia, there is a general uncommon perception that democracy with soft authoritarianism must prevail as there is no foolproof democratic blueprint. In a different viewpoint, the question of the availability of amenities and resources enriching human and social capital has to be examined why individualization can be fostered along with the welfare of body politics. Individualization is the process of liberal democracy where grooming it cannot be at the expense of a few ignoring the larger interests of others.
Transparency, accountability and integrity are principles we fight for, regardless of geographical limitations. Universal principles, norms and values are undeterred and its outreach expands into the sphere of democratic influence. Good Governance is espoused in our constant momentum to consolidate freedom and democracy in Nepal. We hold the convictions that liberal realism in external policy and liberal democracy in internal policy can show the future where our dreams are realized. Our knack in the pursuit of peace, happiness and prosperity are always endangered if we do not persistently and consistently approach liberal democratic political-economic prescriptions for our country.
As long as we do not support pillars of peace and democracy, and we ceaselessly fight against injustice and inequalities, we are distant from achieving our ideals and we will be derailing the long chequered journey of democracy. Nepal is a country that boasts liberal peace and democratic sentiments. But how to preserve, maintain and concretize our ethos is a great challenge in this backdrop of astronomical trends and transformations in social and human capital due to ICT. Movements and migrations across the world for better jobs and pay as well as expansion of classifications in ideologies, we are bound to see how fragile and brittle our socio-political landscape and nation-state building within the confines of the geography of the Himalayas.
What vision we hold and what mission we undertake, the basics of progressive or forward change are necessary to be in sync with global momentum and acceleration. Otherwise, history will never excuse us in our travails of democracy. Why do we defend this political thought if we hesitate to essay for its traction in the young soil of the Himalayas? The resounding victories in this country of democracy through regular elections echo the southern plains and in the region and beyond. Today at this critical turning point of the Second Millennium, we have to enforce change and dynamism in the context of trends and transformations of Nepal, a country where a meeting of ideas and encountering world powers is creating a riddle for politicians and its confusing geopolitical discourse.
Time is ripe that the political system has to be re-imagined as the erstwhile environment and political culture helps us no more. The more we delay the release of socio-political psychological repression, political paranoia is severe. The more we focus on our principles and redouble translating it into practice that is better. Otherwise it is intractable if we pay only lip service. Good that change comes with a price and they say that eternal vigilance we all should possess to enliven democratic set-up and other inter-allied settings. You want an obese state or swift, smart and lean governmental organizations and agencies. What we aspire is determined by how we perspire. Then we must inspire posterity that energy and synergy are needed and not lethargy and unstoppable pleasure all at the expense of national losses and valuable time and resources.
If the current generation does not sacrifice for better living conditions then to whom we are going to entrust responsibility and power. How long do we wait for leadership in every sector and level? If the state has invested in human capital in Nepal, why is the country in a battered and beleaguered situation? With the changing time we lost, what our virtues and merits are, in whatever state of affairs. We lost our dignity and we lost our charm to appeal to the world. We lost what we hold dear our soft power and when we will rejuvenate the mountain people and who is going to intervene on behalf of us from a perpetual fear of human insecurity and bad governance. How will we groom competence and skill required for leadership and where in the country or where in the world?
Who has solutions to remedy the current failures and pitfalls? Why are we always at trials and tribulations when we do not learn from after repeated failures and political tremors and aftershocks? Who is going to manage the whole affairs and who is bound to lead with pragmatism, prudence and foresight? It is impatience, restlessness and accumulating grudges that the government is not governing well in a sound and robust manner which culminates in corruption and all ills of a failed state.
Principles of liberal democracy and practices in statecraft have not been narrowed after the advent of democracy in Nepal. What are the principal reasons behind this chasm which is wreaking great havoc in the psyche of the governed due to the mentality and ability of those who govern? A hedonistic pursuit of political genomes and their sudden changes in the mindset due to whimsical and fancies brought the whole principles along with the political system to such disrepute, that commoners have mixed reactions whether their cherished freedom and quest for better living conditions are in peril or danger or unachievable. They are skeptical whether political good would come out for everyone.
Gandhi termed such a situation as a sin if we conduct politics without principles. In the 21st century, there are apprehensions that bickering and quarrels in politics are beneficial or positive. Many perceive that there should be pacifying and soothing measures to uplift human conditions. But they failed to acknowledge that politics is always a struggle of power and the arc of triumph belongs to the people of every political specter. In this regard, consensual documents like the constitution wherein there is a political compromise for politics of every hue and cry which can claim legitimate political space. A victory of one’s principles is tested and purified in regular elections. It sharpens the political logic and public reasoning, enriching democracy, peace and justice in the country.
A bleak scenario in these current affairs of the country does not portend a good omen for us. There is no delineation of a clean and neat ideological stance of established principles and there is no constant desire to pursue one’s public policy. The most interesting point of public policy based on liberal democratic principles with the tinge of socialism exists in the country. There is an overarching understanding that public policy is owned by politicians at the corridors of power and unchanging mechanics of bureaucracy. If principles of liberal democracy are championed and if they match the action in practice we would experience the outcome as desired by the citizens. The poignant signal is to depart to civic and public affairs management which requires prudent and progressive leadership that always foresees change, like an eternal truth. Original sin is not meeting principles with reality.
Rajeev Kunwar is a Doctoral Student at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
