The Nature of the Nepali State (1768–2025)

This chapter examines the nature of the Nepali state from a regime perspective. Nepal adopted absolute monarchy since its unification in 1768 until the rise of a family autocracy of Ranas in 1846. A democratic system replaced the autocracy in 1951. However, King Mahendra terminated Nepal's first democratic experiment in 1960 and installed the Partyless Panchayat system to rule as an absolute monarch. Democracy restarted in Nepal in 1990 but broke down in 2002 with King Gyanendra's takeover. The People's Movement II ended Nepal's third absolute monarchy in 2006. Nepal has adopted a democratic republic regime under federal frameworks since 2008.