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The political assumptions behind the 1990 Constitution have been severely tested in the past decade. In particular, the enormous pressures exerted by the Maoist insurgency and its fallout have led to the unsettling of many political and constitutional issues previously thought to have been settled. Any future Nepali state will be obliged to re-seek legitimacy and renew its mandate before it can govern the entire nation again. Imbalances and distortions accured over many generations and imprinted onto the state’s composition, machinery and functioning will have to be acknowledged and rectified. The process of constructing a true nation must begin anew.

From the viewpoint of creating a liberal democracy, the key areas for reform and transformation are highlighted below.

Resturcturing the state: Constitutional Monarchy, Armed Forces, and Federal Structure

What factors led the Maoists to take up arms against a representative democratic state and constitution? What changes are necessary to make such armed opposition unnecessary in the future? How can the monarch in Nepal be kept within the bounds of the constitution and be rendered less prone to taking independent action as seen on and after February 1, 2005?

Who controls the armed forces of the nation, and how is that control defined, structured and exercised?

How to bring about true decentralization: devolution of political and economic power to the grass root level? What are the pros and cons of the various models of decentralization that are on the table from various sides? What is the appropriate model of decentralization for a country in Nepal's situation?

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Electoral Reforms 

There is no uniform electoral system in the world. More than half of the countries around the world use some form of proportional representation system of election as opposed to the current first-past-the-post system in place in Nepal. What system gives adequate and fair representation to ethnic and political minorities? What are the main hurdles in reforming the electoral system? And how do we build political will and consensus for reform?

This section will be devoted to these and other questions pertaining to why, what, and how of electoral reform in Nepal.

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Legal Reforms

A strong legal system that is fair and accessible is vital in creating a liberal democracy. A strong legal system is essential in protecting minority rights and personal freedoms. The legitimacy of the state and its ability to uphold the rule of law rests in good measure upon the real and perceived quality of the justice system.

This section will be the forum for discussions on issues like: what primary areas must legal reform initially focus upon? How can corruption in the justice system be checked? How to ensure accessibility to Nepalis of meager means? How to institute true independence of the judiciary?

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Educational Reforms 

Quality democracy depends on quality education. Educated, informed and discerning citizens make individual and collective choices that give stability and substance to democracies. Developing human capital is also essential in creating jobs and economic growth. The growth of private education sector is commendable, but the falling quality of public education system at the same time should be of concern for everyone. The rising cost and limited access to quality private education has polarized our society.

But does the answer lie in over regulating the private sector or stopping its growth? Is a free education through high school a goal that Nepal should aim for? How can the regional imbalance in higher education be addressed? Should Nepal consider creating a decentralized public university system for each of the five regions of the country? What should be the long-term resource mobilization considerations and strategies for public education in Nepal? What interventions are possible to stem the rising ranks of the educated unemployed?

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Social Justice

The level of public awareness of social justice issues in Nepal has reached a new high, in part due to the 9-year old conflict between the Maoists and the Nepali state. There is now consensus that Nepal cannot make the transition to a modern nation-state without acknowledging and addressing layers of endemic exclusionary practices based on caste/ethnicity, region and gender.

This section focuses discussion on exclusion and social justice issues. Special emphasis will be given to strategies and policies for removing barriers to equal opportunity for historically marginalized groups in Nepal. Questions and analyses on affirmative action in education and employment, as well as other means to address ethnic/cultural, religious and language discrimination will be covered.

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Internal Democracy in Party Polity

In a democracy, political parties are among the most important links between citizens and the state/government. Nepal is fortunate for having a long and well-accepted tradition of political party activism and mobilization in the country.

But the failings of political parties have been on national display over the past decade, and this has eroded much of their hard-won legitimacy. How can parties rejuvenate, innovate, and meet the expectations of liberal democracy in a new century? How can parties ensure that fresh ideas and new vision are permitted to emerge? What principles and mechanisms should parties adopt so that they become transparent and internally democratic ?

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Good Governance and Corruption

The basic principle behind organizing and accepting the rule of the modern nation-state and representative government is so that the rights and welfare of citizens may find fair and enhanced expression. In over two centuries of existence the Nepali state bears a very mixed record with respect to fulfilling the minimum expectations of its citizens. In place of service delivery and good governance the Nepali state has become better known as the locus for predatory and corrupt practices. The viability of Nepal as a nation-state hinges on the ability of the current leadership to turn that record around in the near future.

This segment will raise critical questions about governance and corruption with an emphasis on finding mechanisms and solutions for change. What institutional changes in the state are required for checking corruption? How can anti-corruption initiatives and institutions be made non-political, transparent, efficient, and strong?

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Economic Development

Only a very slim segment of society in Nepal is unaffected by poverty and scarcity. Although historic conflict and struggles in Nepal have tended to be about political power, it is economic deprivation and livelihood issues that occupy most Nepalis most of the time. Nepal’s position among developing nations in key development indexes has regressed or at best stagnated over the past three decades while the population has doubled. No amount of tinkering with political variables and options is going to ameliorate the average Nepali’s condition unless they simultaneously and radically impact economic growth and development issues.

How can resources like its vast hydropower be harnessed for the benefit of the people? Should revenue from hydropower and other resources be partly controlled by the region of origin based on a revenue sharing formula? How can Nepal develop and market products like mineral water, herbs, tourism and other items where Nepal has a comparative advantage? The globalization of the knowledge economy (Information Technology) is a promising avenue for Nepal to shed the disadvantages of its landlocked status and become competitive worldwide. What will be involved in tapping into this global IT market more effectively?

This segment will be devoted to issues and discussion centered on economic development, growth, wealth creation and employment generation in Nepal.

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