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Jeffrey Plath and Robin Orchard
INTL 442
Prof. Anita Weiss

Nepal: The Social Costs Of Militarism In Nepal


Foreword:

Over the past ten years Nepal has struggled with the negative realities of ongoing conflict within its borders. Only recently have the rivaling factions come together to negotiate a peace accord and the construction of a new government and constitution. Changes are scheduled to take place in December that will expand Maoist participation in the congress to 73 members—only two fewer seats than the largest party in Nepal. The Maoist inclusion into the newly accepted multi-party democracy is an important step toward achieving stability and reversing the effects of conflict in Nepal.
In this report we will discuss the social repercussions of militarism and the social environment that has been created due to fighting a decade long civil war. For those living in Nepal, war is a reality impossible to escape and is an undeniable presence that influences every aspect of daily life. Development has been extremely limited since the inception of the conflict and only recently have actions been taken to reverse the negative effects of war. The economy, health care, and education systems have all faltered during the extended conflict contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty for the citizens of Nepal.

Economy:

Nepal is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped nations in the world. Nepalese citizens have a per capita income of about $230 dollars a year, the lowest amongst South Asian nations (Douglas). The civil war has directly influenced widespread poverty and economic stagnation within the nation. In the fiscal year ending in July 2002, Nepal’s economy declined 0.6%, an apparent result of the Maoist rebellion’s impact on trade (including tourism) and manufacturing (Kronstadt 10). The following section will concentrate further on the...