Nepal is confronting a serious crisis of public confidence in its political system, fueled by entrenched corruption, economic struggles, and declining principled leadership. The adoption of the Federal Democratic Republican constitution in 2015 was intended to pave the way for democracy, federalism, and social justice, yet the anticipated progress has largely failed to reach the everyday citizen.
Once-respected figures like Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Manamohan Adhikari and Madan Kumar Bhandari, who made significant contributions and sacrifices, set high leadership standards. Today, however, current leaders face waning social acceptance and public trust. Major political parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN Maoist Center, are grappling with diminishing credibility as frustration mounts. This discontent is especially evident among the youth, who are increasingly seeking opportunities abroad amid a growing loss of faith in the political system's capacity to create jobs and resolve urgent issues. To restore trust, Nepal needs to confront corruption head-on and pursue comprehensive reforms that emphasize ethical governance, accountability, and transparent leadership.
Erosion of Ethical Leadership and Systemic Corruption
Nepal’s political landscape has seen a stark decline in ethical leadership, characterized by a shift from principled governance to factional loyalty and short-term gains. German Sociologist Max Weber’s concept of political ethics provides insight into this, distinguishing between the "ethic of conviction," which focuses on adhering to principles, and the "ethic of responsibility," which considers the consequences of actions. In Nepal, leaders often prioritize factional interests over public welfare, resulting in frequent changes in government and governance focused on power struggles rather than public service. Oversight bodies like the Public Accounts Committee of the federal parliament and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) have struggled to combat corruption due to political interference, allowing a patron-client system to flourish. In this environment, officials prioritize loyalty to their political patrons over accountability to the public, deepening mistrust in democratic institutions.
The commercialization of politics has further exacerbated governance challenges. High election costs have empowered wealthy contractors and business figures to dominate the political arena, sidelining leaders without financial backing. This has fostered a culture of quid pro quo, where policies favor financial backers rather than addressing public needs. An example is the donation of land and resources for the UML headquarters, raising ethical concerns in a country where public infrastructure is inadequate and policies often benefit insiders over the wider public.
Corruption in Nepal is not confined to isolated incidents but is systemic. High-profile cases like the wide-body aircraft procurement scandal involving Nepal Airlines, the illegal transfer of public land in the Baluwatar scandal, the misuse of humanitarian aid in the Bhutanese refugee scam, and the Gokarna Forest Resort controversy all highlight governance failures. These cases reflect a pattern where personal and factional interests are prioritized over the public good, deepening disillusionment, especially among youth who feel disconnected from a system that offers little hope for meaningful reform.
Decoding Nepali Celebrities’ New-found love for politics
Learning from Global Experiences in Combating Corruption
Nepal can draw valuable lessons from global examples of anti-corruption efforts. Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark consistently rank as the least corrupt due to transparent governance and strong political ethics. Their models include strict legal frameworks, independent anti-corruption bodies, and a cultural commitment to integrity. Public officials in these countries are held to high ethical standards, with active citizen participation fostering an environment where transparency is a societal norm.
Italy’s experience with the 'Tangentopoli' scandal, which exposed widespread corruption and led to the collapse of many political parties, highlights the risks of unchecked corruption. The scandal reshaped Italy's political landscape, underscoring how systemic corruption can destabilize a political system. Similarly, South Korea’s anti-corruption reforms under President Kim Young-Sam, which included prosecuting former presidents, demonstrated that taking a strong stance against corruption can restore public confidence in governance.
Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas of Swaraj (self-rule) and trusteeship in India advocate that leaders act as custodians of public resources, serving the collective interests of society. This philosophy emphasizes that ethical governance goes beyond legal compliance to embrace a moral obligation toward public stewardship.
Singapore’s model, anchored by the independent Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), successfully minimized corruption through rigorous enforcement and transparent governance. For instance, Singapore recently sentenced a senior cabinet minister to 12 months in prison after he pled guilty to accepting gifts worth more than $312,000 while in public office.
Pathways to Ethical Governance in Nepal
Understanding different forms of trust is also critical to rebuilding public confidence. Simple trust, given without much scrutiny, and blind trust, which persists despite breaches, have contributed to widespread disillusionment. Authentic trust, however, is earned through consistent ethical behavior over time. It is an emotional skill that leaders must cultivate by demonstrating transparency, accountability, and a commitment to ethical governance in both word and deed. Nepali leaders often resort to a Machiavellian approach, where the ends (maintaining power) justify the means (overlooking corruption). While this may offer short-term stability, it ultimately undermines the integrity and justice necessary for a stable society.
To rebuild public trust, Nepal must adopt a governance model that aligns ethical responsibility with practical decision-making. Strengthening policy and legal frameworks is crucial to tackling systemic corruption. Anti-corruption efforts should be coordinated across federal, provincial, and local levels to ensure a comprehensive approach. Political parties need stringent vetting processes for leaders, supported by regular evaluations to identify and remove corrupt influences. Conflict of interest laws and ethical standards for leaders and cadres are essential to limiting undue influence in policy-making.
Embracing evidence-based decision-making can enhance accountability, ensuring data-driven policies aligned with national priorities. This approach guarantees that decisions are objective, inclusive, and reflect the public's needs rather than catering to powerful insiders. Establishing effective feedback and grievance mechanisms is also crucial for empowering citizens to report misconduct and evaluate public service performance. Such mechanisms should facilitate timely responses to complaints, bridging the gap between government actions and public expectations.
Regular monitoring of public officials' assets should be a fundamental part of the accountability framework. Asset declarations must be integrated into performance evaluations, with any unexplained accumulation of wealth subject to investigation. Public and lifestyle audits can help detect inconsistencies, ensuring that officials’ finances match their declared incomes. Beyond legal reforms, fostering a societal culture that actively opposes corruption is crucial. Regular social awareness campaigns can help instill a zero-tolerance approach to corruption across all levels of society, reinforcing that unethical behavior will not be tolerated. Social exclusion programs targeting individuals found guilty of corruption can emphasize the severe consequences for undermining public trust.
Conclusion
Nepal's political crisis, marked by systemic corruption and weakening ethical leadership, demands urgent reforms to restore public trust. Learning from global experiences, strengthening legal frameworks focusing on the Conflict of Interest Act, and fostering a culture that actively opposes corruption are essential steps. Trust is not something freely given; it must be earned through deliberate actions addressing people's needs and rebuilding genuine public confidence. The question posed by Roman poet Juvenal, "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" ("Who will guard the guards themselves?"), is highly relevant, underscoring the need for strong safeguards against policy and political-level corruption.
If Nepal fails to act decisively, it risks facing consequences similar to Italy’s 'Tangentopoli' scandal, which required a political overhaul, or Bangladesh, where unchecked unethical leadership and corruption deeply destabilized society. Taking decisive action now is critical to laying the foundation for a future defined by transparent, accountable governance that serves the interests of all citizens and restores the nation’s integrity.
