The general issues of democratic transition have been widely discussed, but no study exists on the Nepalese example. In proposing to write the first such study, I seek to enrich not only the teaching and research of Nepali politics in Nepal but also the academic discourse on issues of democratic transition, which has thus far been dominated by Western scholars. The results of my study should be useful to policy makers, social scientists, and international agencies engaged in assisting the democratic movement in the developing world. Given the frequent setbacks of the past few years in the global push toward democratization, the issue of how best to consolidate democratic ideals with development aims has become a topic of concern to scholars the world over. Nepal has had all the trappings of a democracy since 1990, but it cannot readily be described as democratic in terms of its political culture.
Democracy is more than electing officials.
Thus, while the country resembles most parliamentary democracies in structure, it diverges from older models insofar as participation is limited to just a few individuals. Nepali democracy still has a long ways to go before reaching maturity. A healthy democracy needs strong political parties, independent forums, organizations and associations such as trade unions, media consumers' organizations, NGOs, farmer organizations, voluntary bodies, social and cultural organizations, and a vibrant civil society to ensure that governance is conducted for the people. Meanwhile, Nepali bureaucrats regard themselves as rulers in their respective jurisdictions rather than as public servants. Even more disturbing, long-established political clans continue to dominate Nepali politics.