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General information
Democracy in Nepal has had a history of a hundred years. From the late 18th century to the 20th century there was a lack of a free civil society in Nepal. From the mid-16th century, Nepal was a Hindu kingdom which through the process of colonisation of the Indian subcontinent by the British East India Company. The courtly family of the Rana implemented a process of Hinduisation by integrating Nepal’s ethno-linguistic groups into a system of castes and ethnic groups. This translated to the state of Nepal developing a political elite dominated by the highest castes, the Khas and the Bahuns. The majority of Nepal’s population was thus lacking individual rights.

The main starting point of a movement for democracy with the ousting of the Ranas, the Nepalese royal family in the mid-20th century (Hangen 2010, p. 21). This ousting was influenced by ethnic and political influences from the Indian nationalist movement (LINK TO MVMNT). This resulted in the installation of Nepal’s first democratic government headed by the Congress Party (LINK TO CONGRESS PARTY). However, this period of democracy ended a year later in 1960 and the Panchayat system of government was introduced, abolishing recent democratic achievements including the banning of political parties and more restricted freedom of speech (LINK TO PANCHAYAT). The Panchayat era saw large-sale political repression manifested in the suppression of opposition and the censorship of the free press and media organisations.

Following student protests in 1980 the King allowed for a referendum on the direction of the political system which resulted in minor adaptations to the existing party-less system paving the way for increased suppression of the opposition (Hutt 2007, p. 16).

Following a period of economic disputes with India and mounting repression in Nepal the Jan Andolan (LINK TO ARTICLE) popular movement resulted in the re-establishment of multi-party democracy in a constitutional democratic framework.

Until 2001 the economic and political situation progresses despite corruption, nepotism and the presence of a Maoist insurgency. The assassination of King Birendra and his family on 1 June 2001 led to the implementation of emergency powers that severely curtail civil liberties and marks the starting point of Nepal’s civil war (LINK TO CIVIL WAR). Until 2006 the King ruled through executive powers and a nation-wide oppression of media and civil society.

Wide-spread protests in Nepal and a coalition of seven Nepalese Parties with the Maoists lead to the concession of the King by reinstating the House of Representatives and removing the royal authority from the constitution, alongside further constitutional changes. This secures a transition of Nepal to a secular state.

Kingdom era
Following the unification of Nepal as a Hindu Kingdom in the 18th century it was ruled by several monarchs and kings until a coup d’état (LINK TO ARTICLE) installed the Rana dynasty as rulers of Nepal. Popular political expression and participation was highly limited during this era of Nepal’s history.

Democracy movement of 1951
By the mid 20th century Nepal started developing an educated elite that was engaged in political expression. This was the result of the expansion of the education system which led to much increased literacy rates and increasing levels of higher education attainment in the country (SOURCE).

Following India’s independence (LINK TO ARTICLE) the political parties were established and engaged in a more organised struggle against the Rana monarchy (LINK TO ARTICLE). The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) was founded in 1947 with the goal to set up a democracy and People’s Republic. Conversely, the Nepali Congress Party, later Nepali Congress, was formed in 1947 and gained support from the NCP to stage an armed revolution against the Rana monarchy (Rai 2018, p. 28). King Tribhuvan fled the country and sought international assistance for maintaining the Nepalese monarchy. However, under significant international and domestic pressure, the Rana and the Nepali Congress agreed to institute a peaceful and stable transition of democracy regarded as the Delhi Compromise of 1951 (LINK TO ARTICLE).

However, apart from instituting a transitional government, the King was restored as the head of state which ended the brief period of democracy in 1955 with the adoption a new constitution granting the King all executive power.

Panchayat era
Following the constitutional change, the King ruled until 1955 and was succeeded by King Mahendra who devised a ban on political parties. In this system, direct elections were only held at a communal level, increasing dissatisfaction with the governments and system of Panchayat which guaranteed freedom of speech but harshly restricted these through a number of laws prohibiting critique of the King.

In 1979 popular discontent led to a referendum on the future of the political system which reinforced the Panchayat system of government with minor reforms.

Jan Andolan 1990
Following a trade dispute with India that resulted in price hikes and shortages of consumer goods. A coalition of seven political factions and the Nepali Congress lead a process of reintroduction of democracy in Nepal. In April 1990, students, human rights organisations and professional unions staged protests which led to the closure of universities and schools while the police attempted to manage the protests by force. These protests eventually led to a mass movement and to the reinstitution of the multi-party constitutional democracy.

2006 Democracy Movement
Following the assassination of King Birendra and his family in 2001 committed by Maoist extremists the multi-party democracy was placed under the emergency rule by the preceding King who tightly controlled the opposition, censored the media, and shut down telecommunications in parts of the country.

After appointing and dismissing various governments, popular protests forced the King to hand power back to the dissolved parliament. An alliance of seven political parties and the Maoists developed a coalition government, signing a peace agreement and abolishing the monarchy.