While the optimism and euphoria of the arrival of loktantra (the new Nepali coinage for 'people's democracy') has dissipated somewhat since King Gyanendra stepped down on 24 April 2006, the Nepali peace process is unquestionably progressing. Economic inclusion will take longer, and full social inclusion may have to wait for a generational change, but the upcoming Constituent Assembly process will nonetheless offer an opportunity to lay the groundwork for these seismic changes to begin.
Nepal was never going to be able to move the peace process forward at the breakneck speed with which it started; nor was it feasible for the overly optimistic political timetables that were promised to be met. Nevertheless, having had a temporary government made up of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), the country has now moved to an 8-party interim government. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has handed over most of its weapons to the United Nations, and has officially entered the government. Power no longer resides with the king. The country's political leaders can be proud of this record, achieved within a year in power.
Democratic transitions are always turbulent, and conflict transformation is a daunting and complex task; Nepal is engaged in both. The country has many overwhelming challenges to face, not least that of ensuring that what emerges is a Nepal-specific democracy – not an Indian, or an American, or a European one. Only a Nepali democracy that takes strength from the Nepali population, after all, will survive.
Transition and transformation
Transitions to democracy are fluid, unstable and volatile, and moving people from resistance to participation is not easy. A state and society moving from authoritarianism to democracy must transform existing power relations throughout the society, a process that is inevitably accompanied by sporadic violence at various levels. This is not to suggest that Nepal can afford to be complacent about the absence of justice and law and order; nor can parallel structures, such as those set up by the Maoists, run indefinitely. But it is important to understand that the transition will not be smooth, and will take time. The objective is to reach an agreed, inclusive democracy that is based upon stable and predictable political relationships, and volatility should slowly decrease as the transition progresses.