Politics of Liberation, Life and Choice Country in crisis due to disharmony between state and society

November 26, 2003
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Our Correspondent

Center for Social Transformation, Nepal (CST) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) organized a one-day seminar on “Energizing Social movement in Nepal for Better Social Justice,” on November 21 in Kathmandu. Altogether 65 participants representing Dalit, youth, women, ethnic groups and nationalities and trade unions participated the seminar. Five theme papers were presented on ethnic, scheduled caste, youth, women and trade union movements in Nepal. The program was moderated by Prof. Krishna P. Khanal and chaired by Narahari Acharya, a central committee member of Nepali Congress Party. Participants viewed that the country is in crisis due to disharmony between the state and the society. The task for political leaders is to transform this disharmony and conflict into peace process. The role of social movements is to energize the power of public and prepare for forward-looking reforms.

Emerging social movements in Nepal capture the plurality of life-world asserting their diverse needs, rights and responsibilities before the state. This assertion is also related to the question of “state ownership” and the regeneration of political process so that it can become socially and politically representative. Most of social movements in Nepal are seeking for structural change. Especially ethnic groups are its leading exponents while Dalits, women, youth and trade unions are seeking for affirmative action. Inclusionary democracy, identity, social justice and participation are their central concerns. Prof. Khanal argued that political parties in Nepal became weak because they did not take the agenda of social movements groups when they came t power and, as a consequence, social transformation has been delayed. Narahari Acharya believed that regression and political radicalism began in the country as a result of the weakness of constitution-oriented parliamentary poitical parties. Five parties combine are taking the reform agenda now because of compulsion, rather than choice.

Dev Raj Dahal of FES argued that the emerging social movement of Dalits, Women, youth, trade unions and civil society in Nepal is politicizing the everyday life of Nepalese people and allowing the power of society to self-organize, communicate and effect collective action. He added, “this movement has produced a critical mass outside the hegemonic political class representing the state which is trying to construct a plural public spheres capable of representing the social microcosm of the nation into political power.” The question remains can this movement combine sectoral social action with larger public action?