Nepal’s Foreign Policy: An Introduction

A Lecture for MIRD 3rd Semester, TU, Nepal

Course Code: MIRD-514

Topic: ‘Guiding Principles of Nepal’s Foreign Policy’

Last Class Recap What is Foreign Policy? What are National Interests?

Tools in Foreign Policy and Process of Foreign Policy Making

Levels of Analysis in Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy of Modern Nepal: Brief History

Scope of Nepal’s Foreign Policy

Determinants and Guiding Principles of Nepal’s Foreign Policy

Limits in Nepal’s Foreign Policy & Solutions.

Today’s Class: Guiding Principles UN Charter Panchasheela Non-Alignment International Law and Value of Peace

Objectives and Goals of Nepal’s FP Protect National Sovereignty and Territorial

Integrity.

Preserving Autonomy while Building Relation

of Trust and Confidence with our Neighbours.

Bringing Foreign Investments to spurt

economic growth.

Promote Nepal as a Progressive Democracy

with Rule of Law, Protection of Human Rights,

and Equality.

Scope of Nepal’s Foreign Policy Which areas need due consideration in our Foreign Policy?

•Relationship with India and China: Pivot of our Foreign Policy

•Relationship with other Powers and Donors (Age of Globalization)

•IOs: UN, EU; RO: SAARC; International Economic Institutions: ADB, IMF, WB, etc.

•Economic Diplomacy: Donors, MNCs, Business Communities, IEIs, etc. for

Investment in Nepal.

UN Charter Although Drafted in 1941, only ratified in 194519 Chapters and 111 Articles First Global Document that Recognizes Nepal as a Sovereign Nation Born out of Traumas of Two Devastating World Wars Promise not to Repeat Failures of League of Nations. Peace, Security, Collectivist, Equality, Cooperation, Human Rights, etc. Success and Failures of UNhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLwvuht0ZxY

UN Charter Given its Vulnerability and Existential Threats,* Nepal Desperately Needed International Recog- nition. Gateway to the World Offered International Forum to Voice its Conce- rns and Complaints. Provided Best Platform to Play Greater Role in International Community irrespective of its size

Principles of Panchasheel Brain-Child of Nehru, India-China both Co-opted to lay it as a Foundation of Indo-China Relationship (1954). 1955 Bangdung Conference of 29 Afro-Asian Countries Incorporated Panchasheel into Ten Principles of Int’l Peace and Cooperation in their Declaration. Tenets of Panchasheel also Imbibed into UN Resolution on Peaceful Co-Existence Presented by India, Sweden, and then Yugoslavia and Unanimously Adopted by UN General Assembly on December 11, 1957. Panchasheel stood as a Core Principle of Non-Aligned Movement’s First Conference in Belgrade 1961.

Principles of PanchasheelInitial Euphoria but soon Reality Check (1962 war), Relationship Never Really got back into track. At time of Signing it was a Trade Pact Regarding Tibet. Later it was used as CSBM. Indo-Nepal and Sino-Nepal Relationship also claimed to be based on ‘Panchasheel’. Does our 1950 Treaty with India Sync with Principles Enshrined on ‘Panchasheel’?

Non-Alignment: Background Based upon Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence ‘Panchasheela’ Idea was not to get involved into ‘Power Politics’ of Democratic or Socialist Block and to Retain ‘Strategic Autonomy’. Events Leading to Non-Aligned Movement. Did Founding Members of Non-Aligned Movement Keep their Words?• Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship (1971)• Egypt-Soviet Collaboration During Suez Crisis.

Non-Alignment in Nepal’s FP Non-Alignment has been the Bedrock of Nepal’s Foreign Policy since Opening to Outside World despite few matters of Expediency Relatively ‘Untainted’ Non-Alignment of Nepal King Mahendra- “Non-Alignment: Equal Friendship to All”. Diversification of Nepal’s FP At Times, this has been Effective Argument for Party less Panchayat Rule in Nepal by King.• Neither Communism of China nor Parliamentary Democracy of India.• As Domestic Outlook of Nepal to Wider World.• Multi-party System Violets Non-Alignment Spirit.

Objectives of Non-Alignment for Nepal’s FP1. Minimize Capacity of External Forces to Influence

Foreign Policy of Nepal.

2. Maximize Goodwill and Benefits Coming from

Foreign Powers.

3. Contribute to Nepal’s Security and Expand its

Manoeuvrability vis-à-vis it’s Two Neighbours.

-Rose (1971: 280)

International Law While Domestic Law is Intended to Bring Order and Stability in the Domestic Realm, International Order and Stability is Maintained through Inter- national Law. A country is Party to International Law when it Ratifies International Law into its Jurisdiction. Different International Laws Focus on Different Issue Areas; such as Civil and Political Rights, Social and Economic Rights; Human Rights, Laws of Sea, Environmental Laws, Laws on Rights of Land-locked Counties, Laws Pertain- ing to International Trade and Commerce; etc.

International Law and Nepal Party to Almost all Human Right Conventions -First Country in South Asia to Accede to Conventi-on against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Deg-rading Treatment/Punishment, Second Protocol to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(Abolition of Death Penalty). -NHRC Report 2007: 32/82/2064 Also Signatory to Geneva Convention, Convention On Transit Trade of Land-Locked States, Vienna Co-nvention, and many more. Being Small Weaker State Landlocked by two Ma-Mmoths, Nepal Can’t rely on Self-Help Mode. MustTurn to Int’l Community for its Survival and Prosperity. Enhances legitimacy and credibility of the State.

Value of Peace Why we needed ‘Zone of Peace’ Proposal even after being party to UN Charter, founding member of Non-Alignment and our foreign policy firmly guided by Panchasheela? International/Regional Context• Sino-Indian War, Indo-Pak War• India and China in two Opposite Cold- War Camps• Bangladesh, Sikkim • Nuclear WeaponsDomestic Context• Need for Distinctive FP for Birendra• Domestic Power Consolidation

Value of PeaceWhat is in ‘Zone of Peace’ Proposal?• Details of Proposal came in Feb 21, 1982 Address of Nepal Council of World Affairs.• Will not Resort to Use of Force• Peaceful Resolution of Conflict• Will not let it’s Soil to be Used against any Other State. It also Wants other States not to let their Soil to be Used against Nepal

Selected Bibliography• Sharma, U. K.(2004) The Peace Zone Concept and its Utility in Nepalese Foreign Policy. Journal of Political Science, 2, pp. 44-50.

•Rothstein, R. (1968) Alliances and Small Powers. New York: Columbia University Press.

•Rose, L. E. (1971) Nepal: Strategy for Survival. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

•Baral, L.S. (1981) Nepal and Non-Alignment. International Studies, pp. 257-272.

•Fox, A. B. (2015) Power of Small States Diplomacy in World War II. London: BiblioLife.

•Whelpton, J. (2005) A History of Nepal. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press

• Khanal, Y. N. (1998) Essays in Nepal’s Foreign Affairs. Kathmandu: Murari Prasad Upadhyay.

•Einsiedel, S. V.; Malone, D. M.; Pradhan, S. (Eds.) (2012) Nepal in Transition: From

People’s War to Fragile Peace. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Next LectureDeterminants of Nepal’s Foreign Policy

•Geo-Politics

•Historical Relations

•Socio-Cultural Connections

•Political System and Changes

•Economic Situation

Question Time

Please introduce yourself before presenting your question.

Do try to make it brief and precise.

Thank you

Thank you for your Patience!