State Restructuring and Federalism in Nepal: Identity Politics and Dalit Representation
Author: Bishwakarma, Mom , mom.bishwakarma@gmail.com
Department: Sociology and Social Policy
University: University of Sydney , Australia
Supervisor: Prof. Danielle Celermajer
Year of completion: In progress
Language of dissertation: English
Keywords:
Dalit
, Discrimination
, Inequality
, Federalism
Areas of Research:
Political Sociology
, Human Rights and Global Justice
, Social Classes and Social Movements
Abstract
Nepal is in a process of state restructuring by adopting a federal political system. Despite federalism has been already adopted in its new constitution, it will be formally constituted only after the recommendation of constitutional commission. Federalism has been major contentious political issue in terms of its basic principle in delineating the identity and forms of federal units. Dalit, a historically disadvantaged community, demands special rights in new constitution. Most of the pro-Dalit provisions had been reflected in draft reports of dissolved constituent assembly (CA). Second constituent assembly addressed most of the Dalit issues, however, there are challenge to establish effective implementation mechanisms considering the adverse socio-political condition and unity among Dalit community. Besides that, the socio-cultural and political barrier negatively impacts on the effective implementation of existing legal provisions in achieving social justice of Dalit. There is not any specific empirical study to find out the effective means of addressing the demands and problems of Dalit in federal governance structure as well as impeding factors for its implementation. This research aims to examine the socio-political discourses in an effort to determine the ways that the dynamics of the larger socio-political context which often negatively impacts the social justice of Dalit particularly impeding factors achieving their justice in federal political institution. An empirical and descriptive type of research design has been employed for this research to be carried out in Nepal. Primary data has been collected employing phenomenological interview interview and relevant literatures will be reviewed to validate the research.
