Introduction: Mapping the Trajectory and Dynamics of Nepal’s ‘transition’

Over the last four years, Nepal’s political ‘transition’ has dominated public debate on social, cultural and political issues in the new republic. However, although the term ‘transition’ has been applied loosely when referring to many elements of political and social change which have occurred in the wake of the Jana Andolan II and the end of the People’s War, what exactly does this transition constitute and what path is it destined to take? The trajectory of social transformation over the last five years has been complex, but nonetheless well documented. The initial euphoria following the overthrow of the monarchy was followed by the uncertainty of what exactly Loktantra would constitute and within less than a year, ethnic tensions had erupted in the Tarai and eastern hills. The 2008 Constituent Assembly elections offered a strong representation of Tarai based parties and a Maoist majority. However, it was only a matter of time before the realities of constitution writing and transformation in the centre became apparent, particularly given the tension between new political actors and the entrenched pre-conflict political order. This culminated in the resignation of the Maoists from the government in 2009, and the two years of political stalemate.