As we are all eager to federate our country, it is very hard for us to determine how Nepal will evolve after the federal structure we are about to embrace materializes, if at all. Nepal has been one of the poorest countries for centuries. And this is the fundamental fact that we want to change by federating our country. Cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identities undoubtedly do carry great value but economic prosperity remains paramount at the end of the day. When villages, towns and cities are burning with the fever of federalism on the basis of ethnicity, the million dollar question of how it can be feasible seems to be largely avoided. If we were to federate Nepal, the very first question should have been whether we can afford it or not. Further, along with the question of economic viability, the question of national unity is also vital.
The question of economic viability of running a federal state has not been clearly answered. With the fact that not all the states proposed, regardless of the numbers, are economically viable and can run independent of central aid, there are ample reasons why the proposed federal states (on whatever basis) cannot survive or will struggle to do so. Further, as we will have to spend massively on infrastructure building and paying the expanded civil service, the state coffer will get seriously depleted. If we start building a house without an adequate budget to see the process through, we will be forced to live in an unfinished house.
Those who are looking at tax-raising as a revenue generating option are simply wrong. Raising taxes just for the sake of keeping federal states afloat will become the cause for another people’s uprising. When we cannot support ourselves, we are likely to look towards our neighbors for help. And when two rising giants surround us, asking for help in any form is detrimental, given the fact that Nepal’s economy is already scarred with foreign loans and donations. And this time around, we are going to need more from neighbors in the form of aid, donation or loans but such capital is not going to come without a price. As the money pours in, so will demands. The demand of what to do with the money will be decided by whoever gives us the funds.
Federalism is not just about how we want to divide the nation into units and prosper together but also how much risk we put ourselves in when we do it. The flipside of federalism needs to be scrutinized. There are examples where federalism has failed, thereby, making a nation a playground of foreign forces. Nigeria makes for the most compelling example.
The other matter that we might want to delve into is ethnicity and unity. Nepal being the oldest nation state in south Asia cannot afford to lose its integrity. The diversity we have with more than hundred ethnic groups should be an asset to the nation. When a number of countries around the globe are incessantly dealing with the problem of ethno-separatism, we still remain a vibrant example of ethnic harmony. The core essence of identity seems to be shadowed by ethnicity in Nepal. The very idea of demanding federalism on the basis of ethnic identity needs to be questioned. For instance, identifying ourselves as a member of some ethnic group just reflects how poorly we know ourselves as human beings. Our identity is not merely our ethnicity. If one were to identify himself/herself as a member of an ethnic group, his/her identity is lost at the time the group ceases to exist as a whole. The whole question of ethnic identity needs to be seen from a different lens. If Nepal is federalized on the basis of ethnicity, ethnic groups and minorities are sure to gain advantage to some extent, but federalism does not simply entail empowering minorities and the marginalized. There are various other ways of empowering the underprivileged and those who have been historically discriminated against. We need to identify and implement those measures instead of looking at federalism as yet another ‘policy’ that can remove social and ethnic inequities. Federalism should not be mistaken as a panacea to all our social ills.
If we are to federate Nepal, the first question should have been if we can afford it. Along with the question of viability, the question of national unity is also vital.
Also, centre-state relations in a federal nation are of prime concern throughout and the relation is always prone to tension. A federal nation built on ethnic identity is sure to bring in even more complications. The centre-state and inter-state relations will be defined by how different ethnic groups deal with each other rather than how different state governments engage. Ethnic identities can overshadow national identity. In addition, the state’s relation with the international community is also of great importance. With relative autonomy bestowed upon states by the centre, it cannot be guaranteed that such autonomy will be solely used for the prosperity of the state. As centre-state relations are not going to be healthy and robust all the time, various states which feel marginalized or sidelined by the centre in terms of economic support or participation in national issues will tend to harbor some resentment towards the center. Such bitterness and friction will be detrimental to national unity. Moreover, economically stronger states will start acting more independently, given the fact that such states typically have a strong say in the centre. Such obvious inter-state demarcations will lead to further divisions and resentment. The result could be a hesitant centre with a handful of muscular states dominating the others.
Thus, although the demand for federalism might carry some weight, there still exists a flipside to it that should make us reconsider the entire discourse. There are strings attached to federalism that cannot be ignored. Rather than acting impulsively, we need to take a prudent decision that would serve the needs of the country, no matter how much time it takes. Right decisions outplay decisions taken to meet a deadline.
The writer is currently pursuing his MA in Political Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India
dinear05@gmail.com
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