Communism in search of Hegemony in South Asia: The Case of Nepal

Abstract

The paper considers the strikingly successful electoral victory of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) in the recently held Constituent Assembly elections as the triumph of communism in Nepal as a hegemonic force, with far reaching consequences for South Asia, especially India. Accordingly, an attempt has been made to trace the phenomenal rise of the Maoists in Nepal, especially in the context of severe repression of all oppositional forces under monarchical rule. The paper then shows that although the Maoists in Nepal have been traditionally viewed as unrepentant believers in the cult of violence, there has been a significant change in their attitude towards the question of violence and democracy in recent years. Taking lessons from Russia and China, their projection of the question of socialism as well as the problem of social and political transformation of Nepal is now marked by remarkable flexibility and a high level of political maturity, free from dogmatism, while they remain deeply entrenched among the toiling masses of the country. The Maoists’ return to power in Nepal thus marks the beginning of a new era in the history of radicalism in South Asia.