In what can only be a quirk of history, Nepal’s recent political developments resemble those of China during the three decades preceding the Chinese Communist Party’s victory over the nationalist Kuomintang. Broad parallels can be drawn between the experiences of the Nepali state in the 1990-2018 period and those of the Chinese state in the 1919-1949 period. In both the countries, these were the times when democracy was practiced, monarchy was abolished and chaos reigned. Finally a strong communist rule emerged. In China, in this period the Qing dynasty was abolished and a republic established after some 2,000 years. A democratic system was introduced and elections held. But China plunged into anarchy with the north, the south and the west going berserk.
One historian has remarked that establishing a democracy in China at that time was not possible. The country was at war and divided between the Communists and the Nationalists. Corruption within the government and a lack of direction prevented meaningful reform. Chiang Kai-shek, a democratic leader, saw the failure of his administration to do real work and said, “Our organization becomes worse and worse… many staff members just sit at their desks and gaze into space, others read newspapers and still others sleep.”
It looks like a replication of the restoration of parliamentary democracy, the downfall of monarchy and the beginning of a republic in Nepal. The level of corruption, a lethargic civil service and anarchy in the administration in that era of Chinese history have parallels with what has been happening in Nepal since 1990.
Bit of Chinese history
This specific period in China initially witnessed a democratic administration run by General Chiang Kai-shek. The southern part was under the control of the Kuomintang, led by a popular leader Sun Yat-sen. But the north-western part, contiguous to Soviet Union, had turned into a communist bastion under Mao. When Sun Yat-sen died, the Kuomintang leadership went to General Chiang and two major political forces emerged. They came together when Japan attacked China in 1937.
They stayed together until the end of the Second World War in 1945 to drive out foreign invaders. But when that mission was completed, the two started fighting for political supremacy. After over four years of intense civil war, the communists succeeded in driving the Chiang-led Kuomintang out of mainland China. The Kuomintang moved to Taiwan and established a separate state.
Unity and disunity
Similarly, Nepal witnessed three-pronged hostility among the monarchy, the democratic parties and the armed Maoists during Nepal’s conflict years. It was taken for granted that coalescence between any two of the three political forces would defeat the third force. But it was not clear for several years which among them would stay and which would be out. When king Gyanendra took over state powers in 2005, it paved the way for the democratic parties and the insurgent Maoists to work together against the monarch. No sooner did they come together than they launched massive agitation against the king and eventually abolished the monarchy.
But as happened in China, the monarchy’s abolition brought about lawlessness, massive abuse of state coffers and impunity. Three political parties became dominant in turn in three successive elections, and they united and disunited in their pursuit of power. The Maoists, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML were the biggest parties in, respectively, the first, second and third polls held after the 2006 changes. As in China, subsequent to the democratic exercise and internal fighting for about 30 years, the united Nepali communist outfit now exercises power over the state machinery.
Million-dollar question
The role of foreign powers in these countries is also comparable. Few Chinese had any illusion about Japanese imperial desires on China. Japan was hungry for raw material and wanted fresh territory to accommodate a growing population. That led to the seizure of Manchuria in 1931. The ensuing Chinese fury against Japan was predictable.
Nepal had a similar experience when it promulgated a new constitution in 2015. It was well aware of India’s attitude towards it. However, it went ahead and issued the constitution by defying India. Consequently, Nepal had to endure untold suffering wrought by a months-long economic blockade.
The big political parties stood together while issuing the constitution. But as soon as the blockade ended, they began fighting. The fight continued until the recent polls gave the communist alliance a clear mandate to govern. But the question remains: can Nepal under a communist government consolidate and develop the way communist China has done in recent times?
By ADITYA MAN SHRESTHA
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