The Nepalese movement for
democracy arose with the specific
objective of reversing the king's orders
that led to suspension of democracy. In
India, Narmada Bachao Andolan is a
good example of this kind of
movement. The movement started with
plz plz tell the explanation of social science 10 class political science ch 5. 3types of movement
Answers
Answer:
Nepal became a constitutional monarchy in 1990. King Birendra, who has accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy, was killed in a mysterious massacre of the royal family in 2001.
2. King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal, took advantage of the weakness and unpopularity of the democratically elected government. In February 2005, the king dismissed the then Prime Minister and restored monarchy.
3. All the major political parties in the parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called for a four-day strike in Kathmandu. People defied curfew and more than a lakh people gathered almost every day to demand restoration of democracy.
4. On 24 April 2006, the last day of the ultimatum, the king was forced to concede all the three demands. a) Restoration of parliament b) Power to an all-party government c) New constituent assembly.
5. The SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the new Prime Minister of the interim government. The restored parliament met and passed laws taking away most of the powers of the king.
What was the second movement for democracy in Nepal?
1. The SPA and the Maoists came to an understanding about how the new Constituent Assembly was going to be elected.
2. This struggle came to be known as Nepal’s second movement for democracy.
Bolivia’s Water War
1. Bolivia is a poor country in Latin America. The World Bank pressurized the government to give its control of municipal water supply for the city of Cochabamba to a multi-national company (MNC).
2. The company immediately increased the price of water by four times. This led to a spontaneous popular protest.
3. In January 2000, a new alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders organised a successful four-day general strike in the city. The government agreed to negotiate and the strike was called off. Yet nothing happened.
4. Another strike followed in April and the government imposed martial law. But the power of the people forced the officials of the MNC to flee the city and made the government concede to all the demands of the protesters.
5. The contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates. This came to be known as Bolivia’s water war.
Similarities and differences between struggles of Nepal and Bolivia
Similarities
1
Both the struggles are
instances of political conflict that led to
Popular struggles.
Both the struggles are
instances of political conflict that led to
Popular struggles.
2
In both cases the struggle involved mass mobilisation.
In both cases the struggle involved mass mobilisation.
3
In both instances involved critical role of political organisations
In both instances involved critical role of political organisations
Differences
1
The movement in Nepal was
to establish democracy
The struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government.
2
The struggle in Nepal was about the foundations of the country’s politics.
The popular struggle in Bolivia was about one specific policy
3
Both these struggles were successful but their impact was at different levels
Both these struggles were successful but their impact was at different levels
What were the conclusions we can draw from the struggles of Nepal and Bolivia?
1. Democracy evolves through popular struggles. It is possible that some significant decisions may take place through consensus. These moments come when the country is going through transition to democracy, expansion of democracy or deepening of democracy.
2. Democratic conflict is resolved through mass mobilisation. Sometimes it is possible that the conflict is resolved by using the existing institutions like the parliament or the judiciary.
3. These conflicts and mobilisations are based on public participation with the help of organised political parties and pressure groups.