Federalism in Nepal: From National Security Perspective
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Department of Internaional Relaions and Diplomacy
Abstract
The promotion and protection of national security have been a core national
interest of every state. The issue of national interest becomes more crucial at a time of
restructuring process, survival, and competition in the global politics. As a state building
process, Nepal is in the nascent phase of administering the federal system after
promulgation of the fifth time amended Interim Constitution of Nepal 2008, which is later
replaced by the Constitution of Nepal 2015. There has been significant development in
the political system, institutional arrangements of the state and national security-related
governing bodies, policies, and priorities.
However, in comparison to a great and emerging power, Nepal experiences more
security risks and challenges to protect national security due to more economic
interdependence, and limited military power intertwined with geographical positioning
which attracts the interest and repercussion of immediate neighbours and rivalry powers.
Whilst the existing internal threats also threaten, fragment and challenge the management,
regulation, and protection of security. In this landscape, this research aims to study the
national security strategies enshrined by the adopted constitution of Nepal 2015 and
safeguarded by the foreign policy of federal Nepal. Through thematic analysis, it
critically examines methods of promotion of national security and then explores potential
challenges that emerged while practicing the federal system. Finally, this paper discusses
suggestions or recommendations regarding how the national security of Nepal can be
achieved, safeguarded, and promoted by mitigating and managing the security risk and
challenges.
Key words: National security, federalism, small state, great power, and asymmetric
dependence.