Origins of federalism: A case of Nepal

Abstract

There is debate in the academic literature about the origins of federal political system since long time back. This study is an attempt to unfold the issue by analysing the socio-political developments and circumstances vis-a-vis origin of federalism in case of Nepal. This study finds that the Livingston’s “sociological theory” adequately explains the formation and origin of Federalism in case of Nepal. Firstly, Nepal is a case of federalism that has been created through the process of devolution (dis-aggregation) not through aggregation; secondly it has been created through many political negotiations held by the government of Nepal in response to the demands of various ethno-regional groups of the society, thirdly federalism as a political system has been adopted to replace the centralised monarchical unitary system dominated by single identity. Fourthly it has been evolved as the antidote to the exclusionary nature of the state as well as to accommodate the socio-cultural diversity.