Overview for Nepal: Quest for Participatory Democracy
Participatory democracy is interpreted not merely as a representative process but also as an inclusive and substantive system of governance. Its mission is to enhance the overall interest and capacity of people living within a country. Accepting that electoral mechanism alone does not constitute democratic process, democracy is expected to empower ordinary people. The present book has tried to conceptualise participatory democracy by putting the people at the centre of politics. And only the empowered people can share power through the democratic process and with the freedoms guaranteed by the democratic order. The papers included in this volume are of diverse nature contributed by the authors of various disciplines. May articles also reveal the necessity of redefining democracy in order to contexttualize it in accordance with the existing realities of the country.
Lok Raj Baral (Editor)
Lok Raj Baral (Ph.D.) is Professor and Executive Chairman of Nepal Centre for Contemporary Studies (NCCs). He is the author of several books of Nepal and South Asia and regular contributors to National and International Journals, and edited volumes. Prof. Baral served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of political science and was ambassador of Nepal to India during 1996-97.
Bagchee
