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It is no coincidence that in all dictatorship the opposition is first sought to be minimized and silenced by intimidation, violence, or unhealthy legislation. In more democratic countries, the opposition is sought to be silenced more subtly; actively downplaying its importance.
In a democratic system, the role of the opposition is very important. Power tends to be absolute. Without the opposition, power has the potential to be misused. On the other hand, the government must understand that eradicating the opposition would lay the foundation for autocracy or tyranny and eventually, the end of democracy. In a democratic rule, the opposition is as legitimate as the government. The opposition must be rational, meaningful, and well-intentioned to do the job.
The cornerstone of a healthy democracy is the opposition. It is no coincidence that in all dictatorship the opposition is first sought to be minimized and silenced by intimidation, violence, or unhealthy legislation. In more democratic countries, the opposition is sought to be silenced more subtly; actively downplaying its importance.
In a democracy, the role of the opposition is clear: to supervise the administration and the acts of the government, to act as an agent capable of perfecting government proposals, to be a catalyst for popular demands and dissatisfactions, and, in a way, to help the government to make fewer mistakes and to manage rather, criticizing, pointing out mistakes and incongruities, highlighting the consequences of mistakes and denouncing errors and omissions. Competent opposition contributes to achieving the objective of political action. In addition, it must be purposeful and present different paths from the current ones to ensure greater efficiency in the public sector and enable constant national growth. It requires an opposition that can control and analyze a policy that is not pro-people.
The role of the opposition in the democratic system is to identify and provide actionable suggestions for public issues in addition to weaknesses and deficiencies in government policies which make the government easy to set its path and policymaking. With strong and honest opposition, the government can never set up wrong and weak policies and the same role of the opposition is called a true Democracy.
In genuine parliamentary democracies, governments and oppositions have equal obligations and responsibilities to the citizens of their state. Both are composed of representatives of parliamentary parties, who are elected by the citizens of the country to represent their interests. In fact, this applies to both levels of government- central and local. The opposition should be given specific rights and responsibilities by the government. Members of the opposition must have access to democratic processes and must consult with members of the opposition on important issues. The opposition must act responsibly, taking into account the state interests and should constructively, within the legal field, criticize government policy, but cannot unreasonably interfere with the work of the government. The spirit of mutual respect should always be encouraged.
The opposition within a democracy has, among its functions that of limiting the government in turn, must also promote pluralism and coexistence in dissent. Only in this way can the ultimate goal of public servants be achieved, eventually leading to the search for greater well-being for the population.
Formulation of the problem and the existence of the institution of political opposition is an extremely important phenomenon because its existence is a prerequisite for the existence of democracy in the state. Political opposition ensures the functioning of civil society. The lack of checks and balances in the state can lead to increased authoritarianism, as well as conflict within the ruling elite. It is the opposition that is the legal phenomenon that regulates the balance between the majority and the minority in the state. The opposition ensures control over the rule of law by the authorities and prevents usurpation by the top officials. It thus ensures the legitimacy and legality of state power
There are different types of opposition, due to their identity and ideological orientation, objectives, level of competitiveness, political weight, and fighting strategies. Mainly we see two types of opposition- the ‘fundamental opposition’ is directed in principle against the political system, its principles of conformation, and the fundamental social consensus (for example revolutionary movements). The parliamentary opposition is considered as an imminent and legal element of the political system.
In the Nepalese political spectrum, almost all parties do not care about their ideology. All they care about is to unfairly align themselves to be part of the government for their vested interest. Unfortunately, the opposition in Nepal is experiencing an identity crisis. The role that the opposition would play is largely played by the press and the You Tuber. The opposition is busy sharing perks on a personal level by begging with the government. Our opposition does not raise the voice.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya once said, “when the roads become silent, the parliament becomes a loafer”. This sentence clearly explains the role of the opposition in a democratic government. Finally, for the sake of progress, prosperity, and common justice in advancing the country, the opposition parties in Nepal is urgently in need. Most of the participating parties and election winners should not be in government. Even though in politics it is a struggle for power to carry out party goals and ideologies based on interests. Without active opposition, there is no democratic life. The opposition is an essential dimension of political life. As an opposition or as a political party, Nepali Congress is not dead yet but it is on a ventilator. Once you are on a ventilator, the chances of recovering become slim. Democracy without Opposition is like coffee without caffeine.
Youth, Politics And The Future of The Nation
Everything is a matter of politics. The quality of the air we breathe or waste disposal depends on political decisions
Politics is a citizen’s action every day, all the time. There is no doubt that the health of democracy depends on young people in large part. The young generation of youth is the main pillar in determining the progress of the nation. 60% of the population is under the age of 40 and is the lung of our society. We cannot deny the wheels of politics will not rotate without the involvement of youth. Our education system does not help the personal development of young people to improve their well-being and to tackle problems such as injustice in society. Young people have their own frailty but still remain open, available, and generous. They are no longer prisoners of ideologies as the previous generation. Exploring the dynamics of youth politics, participation is not an easy task. The core issue is not the new generation or the old generation. It’s the thought process they have. In politics, we should incorporate all walks of life based on their ability and contribution to a greater cause. We have to understand our strengths. We can do better only if our ability to accept diversity, the openness of the mindset, and respect for every belief without having this generation conflict.
Everything is a matter of politics. The quality of the air we breathe or waste disposal depends on political decisions. Every moment of our lives, every decision we make or let others make is political. To do politics is to make trade unionism, to militate and not to take as much cash from everything that the media tells you. To make politics is to exist!
Youth are individuals with dynamic characters, both turbulent and optimistic, but lack stable emotional control. The youth population accounts for the largest segment of our country. Youth should be an important force in the process of political change and progress in Nepal. Democracy is supposed to be about choices, freedom, and hope and what kind of hope can we have if a leader who is 65 and above is leading this nation? Most of these old leaders never had the potential, and they promised everything but never fulfilled even a single one and we’re not accountable for their actions.
No one has yet done an in-depth survey to find out what young people think about politics. There could be surprises because a majority of them are apolitical since they do not trust the parties. They consider themselves to be archaic, but that, in turn, does not mean that they abhor democracy. They are pragmatic and post-political. They do not see an excessive difference between progressives and conservatives. For them, they are all the same or almost the same. And above all, they are not afraid of them. Young people like to change things. They are dynamic, while they see politics as static. They want to change everything, sometimes in too much of a hurry.
Some have fallen into political controversy without ever having a basis of political knowledge. That is a really worrying trait. A country that wants to grow and prosper must have a knowledgeable and politically aware younger generation not afraid to speak out about important issues of the country. Along with it, it is necessary to make it possible for young people to be able to speak up for them as they are the generation that determines the future of the country. Why do they not speak up? Is it because they are not interested in the political discussion? Those doubts will have to be answered sooner or later. People have always criticized politicians and officials and blamed them for their troubles. Does this mean that the policy has always been bad or is it just normal for general people to hate officials?
Young people of Nepal believe they are living in a country where the government and ministries are unqualified people while many young graduates wander in streets searching for jobs. This is the reason governments allow any evil intended businessmen to decide how you should live your life. They have a frustration that they need a 4 years degree plus 3-5 years of experience to get a decent job. But no one in this administration has the bare minimum of knowledge or experience to even understand what their job actually is.
Youth participation is low in political parties and government institutions, but in groups and civil-society organizations are higher. There is no doubt that inclusive youth participation is a key condition of ownership for Nepalese socio-economic transformation. There are many factors affecting the level of participation by young people such as limited access to education and health, which is the result of problems with the availability, cost, and quality of education and health services. On the other hand, there are also factors of poverty, social habits, religious and cultural attitudes, and the willingness of adults to give them space to participate.
That values, political orientations, and attitudes of modern Nepal’s youth will replace the current politically active forces is a matter of truly public strategy and for the fate of most of the current Nepali youth and the fate of Nepali democracy. The future of Nepal depends on the actual establishment of a new type of social relations, including political, economic, legal, spiritual, and moral values. Intervening in an independent life the younger generation will have the most difficult period of development of the social system. Due to the socio-political crisis, the country’s adaptive potential of the Nepalese society has undergone a serious test. Today, in order to become an active participant in the political process, a person must possess a certain set of political knowledge and skills to be indoctrinated to the process of general social change.
Young people should not only be used as a voting team or as a team to lift the electability and popularity of candidates. Youth in Nepal are busy taking care of politics in cyberspace, they must be political actors to make changes. They must take part in politics from the local, state, and federal levels.
Monarchy Or Republic?
The King has no ambition to interfere in political life beyond his mandate or to increase these powers. The King does not have the mercy to lead a party or any civil movement that looks like a party
June 7, 2019, 12:58 p.m. Published in Magazine Issue: VOL 12 No.20, Jun 07 –27 June, 2019 (Jestha 24, 207/074-756) Online Register Number: DOI 584
Nepal could soon become the first country in the world to abandon the republic as a form of the state within democratic normalcy and restore the monarchy. Isn’t this a very unusual hypothesis-a dilemma that has its origins since ancient times? During their long history, both the monarchy and the republic had different meanings. The Republic is a form of government that has appeared in history both in autocratic and in democratic regimes, while the monarchy has for centuries been largely part of the autocratic regime, changing its various forms, ranging from a slave, absolutist state to modern, hybrids and constitutional parliamentary monarchy.
The way things are moving, Parliamentary monarchy is a better political solution than a republic for Nepal. The restoration of the Monarchy is getting closer in Nepal. We need to wake up from the general lethargy that had been around for the last 22 years with a different political experiment which gave nothing to my very nation.
Our irritated society with an agitated system can hardly produce anything anymore. Successful nation-building should incorporate basic principles like good partners, process, Problem-solving, Purpose, People. The nation building is about people. Power, Greed, and the Love of Money do not move history. People move history. We are practicing social Darwinism, not democracy in Nepal. I can go on and on as I need someone as a guarantor of national unity.
I was raised as a democratic person. I am a Democrat, and I confess that I am absolutely ready to return to the constitutional monarchy. Can we have a referendum on the monarchy? We can’t always make the right decision, but we can make every decision right.
We have to do it now before it gets too late. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the modern constitutional monarchy which is part of a constitutional system based on a parliamentary form of government in which the monarch has only a ceremonial role. So the monarchy cannot clean up the political class, because the parliamentary system will inherently keep all the elements of democracy. The most important aspect of freedom and democracy are identity and dignity. The day we abolished the king, we lost our identity and dignity, and since then, we have not been able to practice true democracy with freedom. Do I really need such a system? A system that consists in mandating a party cadet who will have to obey the orders of international institutions that do not obey any democracy? Who will try to pass his reforms to an assembly of corrupt representatives?
Every citizen has the duty. We must all be aware of our history and the behavior of our policies, the quality of our vote, the system and therefore, our quality of life. Let’s not choose anything blindly. What we have is not a democracy. It’s a lottery. We are not treated as citizens. The problem of the republic is that an aristocratic fate of real parasites, parvenus, took control. Republican Nepal, which is not really a republic but plutocracy held by an oligarchy without nobility, is an occupied country.
The King has no ambition to interfere in political life beyond his mandate or to increase these powers. The King does not have the mercy to lead a party or any civil movement that looks like a party. Arguments never cease to stop in our country. The Nepalese still need to realize that a republic would cost the taxpayer more than a royal family. The republic is not politically and morally defensible for us. In reality, a Republic would be cheaper than a Monarchy, but this is not happening to our country. Based on the data from the last 10 years, the government has spent 10 Arab but in 250 years, only 9 Crore. Thus, we can say that Monarchy cost us less than the president! This issue has made Money saving one of the main arguments against the restoration of the monarchy. The fact is that the elected president is spending as much as the king or more than him. However, the issue is not only that. What many don’t know is that after every four years, the president gets a lifelong retirement so we practically will have several presidents at the same time, while in the case of the monarchy there is just one ruler, just one king.
Let us talk about the cost of the election. Every four years, the president is elected. It is simple mathematics that if a direct election takes place, the institution of the king would cost taxpayers less than the institution of the president. Hence, I believe now that a king would give a better image of my nation than a president. The monarchy seems to me as an antidote to Nepal. The Monarchy represents the plurality of identity and the constant renewal within continuity. Monarchy might not be a perfect system, but it is the best for a country like Nepal. The way things are moving, it has been proven that the monarchy in Nepal was more democratic than a republic!
Kleptocracy
Kleptocracy comes from the Greek words, “kleptes” (meaning ‘thieves’) and “kratos” (meaning ‘strength’). Thus, a kleptocratic government is a group of political body where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested.
By :Deepak Raj Joshi
March 4, 2019, 1:42 p.m. Published in Magazine Issue: VOL 12 No.14, March 01, 2019 (Falgun. 17 2075) Online Register Number: DOI 584/074-75
The personal responsibility of politicians for their actions is closely related to the notion of political responsibility, but at the same time, these two forms of responsibility must be distinguished from one another. In other words, understanding the notion of political responsibility is closely related to how society generally understands politics. Unlike other forms of government such as democracy, monarchy or dictatorship, Kleptocracy is not an official form of government. The sole purpose of a kleptocratic government is to first and foremost exercise power based on the individual enrichment of its members.
Kleptocracy comes from the Greek words, “kleptes” (meaning ‘thieves’) and “kratos” (meaning ‘strength’). Thus, a kleptocratic government is a group of political body where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested.
Historically, it was found as a system in ancient Greece, but in society, the system of “governance by thieves” is more perfect due to the nature of states and leaders. Kleptocrats usually refer to public money as if it were their personal bank account, spending money where they consider it necessary. Many kleptocrats also covertly transfer budget money to classified bank accounts in foreign countries, so as to ensure a luxurious existence in case of their removal from power, or, if necessary, escape from the country.
The Party in power actually forms a system of organized theft. In order to survive and advance, it is forced to pretend to defend certain “values”, while its main task is to provide financial support to those who support it.
Kleptocracy describes the situation in a country where the corruption of the highest political institutions has been brought to a level when the government exists only for the personal gain of the individual and parties that make it, at the expense of the wider population and often out in the open.
Kleptocracy is characterized by corruption, lobbyist, money laundering, and neglect of long-term goals. In states where kleptocracy rules, the authorities have public property as their private property, and they either spend money on their own luxury or transfer them to accounts of foreign countries, thus providing themselves with a comfortable life in exile in case of loss of power.
The kleptocratic practice occurs in various forms, such as setting up companies that are sold to the government or members of his family, extorting money from business people for “humanitarian actions”, the ruling party embezzling money from state funds and turning foreign investments to their advantage. The consequences of such a regime cause the weakening of the state economy, state policy and civil rights. The money that kleptocrats steal is often taken from funds laid aside for the construction of public needs, such as hospitals, schools, roads, parks – which additionally enhances the quality of life in the country that is managed by kleptocrats. Kleptocracy disregards the multiparty authority due to the association of political elites, and thus
undermines both democracy and any other political format under which the state is.
For over twenty years, they have been trying to convince us that they were building democracy. We are still convinced that they are only interested in material values. We are economical at the bottom – among the poorest countries of the world. Modern Nepalese government has many names- pseudo-democrats, traitors, elitists and one of the main names of the Nepalese government is…..kleptocrats. Systematic theft leads to the fact that officials and entrepreneurs who refuse to participate in corrupt schemes, in various ways, move away from power and business. They do not just steal- they teach how to steal from the whole country.
Honest work becomes unprofitable. To be engaged in production becomes unprofitable. Investment in superior technology is not profitable. It is profitable only to steal, including those who honestly work, who are engaged in production, and are trying to develop technology.
Impunity, prevarication, bribery, political corruption, and misuse of public power to obtain illegitimate advantages in a secret way are the forms of cronyism that leads to kleptocratism.
The appointment of different positions in the government by taking money proves that this country is not only controlled by kleptos (thieves or thieves). They have evolved, from klepto to mafioso (the organization called the mafia). The mafia helps to elect a politician to gain power. They use illicit money from bribery, corruption, project mark-ups and budget lapses for the campaign.
Power is necessary to perpetuate hegemony, political power, authority, capital power as well as the power to monopolize the law. Law and justice need to be mastered to protect their colleagues who are involved in legal matters. Minimum punishment is light, and when sentenced, they go to prison but can go in and out as they desire.
The characteristic of the kleptocratic state, among others, is that the level of corruption in the bureaucracy is very high. This bureaucracy refers to the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Kleptocracy often enriches its corrupt bureaucrats and partners by exploiting natural resources. People’s prosperity is often sidelined for the sake of gaining power and possessions.
The crime of corruption in Nepal has reached a chronic point. The decline or lack of improvement in ‘political accountability’ is almost certainly one of the main problems of Nepalese political development.
This fact can be seen from the continued spread of corruption cases or bribery involving many public officials (ministers, former ministers, governors, mayors, district heads), members of parliament at various levels or political party leaders. Political accountability is one of the important elements of democracy, to work well and to bring the most benefit to all citizens. Political accountability refers to the obligations and responsibilities of public office holders to take policy and take steps for the public interest as a whole. Otherwise, the relevant public office holds legal and political consequences. Kleptocracy threatens democracy. If idiocracy is a dictatorship of stupidity, then kleptocracy is a higher degree of idiocracy.
Why Is There Not A Hindu Nation?
In the name of secularism, our leaders have been felling their personal interest and these people have also put the country’s integrity and security on a stake. Religion is the way that helps every person formulate his life’s journey successfully. Hinduism was not rejected by the people of Nepal. Credit goes to Girija Prasad Koirala and his team who helped abolish the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy and transforming the impoverished country into a secular republic.
By Deepak Raj Joshi
Jan. 27, 2019, 12:02 p.m. Published in Magazine Issue: VOL 12 No.12, January 25, 2019 (Magh. 11 2075) Online Register Number: DOI 584/074-75
Just before we abolished centuries-old Hindu monarchy and established the republican nation, Nepal used to be the only constitutionally declared Hindu nation in the world. Maoists and their shadow Democrats declared Nepal a secular state by getting rid of the Hindu state tag.
We all are firstly guided by the social norms, values, traditions, and customs, which are based on religion. Religion is the way that helps every person formulate his life’s journey successfully. Religion is the aroma of society. Hinduism in Nepal is not a religion, but a way of life and it is naturally secular.
Let’s examine the origins of secularism as an idea. It begins with the mindset of the Ancient Greek philosophers to see the society at that time using metaphysical dualism by distinguishing between worldly and spiritual matters. Assumptions that divide the aspects of life are categorized into two parts, namely spiritual and secular. Matters related to religion are identical with the spiritual matters and the things related to the world are identical with the secular. This is the beginning of the birth of secularism. While in terms of epistemology, secular comes from the Greek word “speculum” which means ‘worldly’ in the dimension of space and ‘now’ in the dimension of time. Secularism was a philosophy of atheists for a few decades.
In the name of secularism, our leaders have been felling their personal interest and these people have also put the country’s integrity and security on a stake. Religion is the way that helps every person formulate his life’s journey successfully. Hinduism was not rejected by the people of Nepal. Credit goes to Girija Prasad Koirala and his team who helped abolish the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy and transforming the impoverished country into a secular republic. Religion for Nepalese people is something we are proud of and carry it as a part of our identity. We are a victim of Pseudo-secularism. Secularism is considered to be one of the basic vows of leftist ideology but it was introduced with the help of the Nepali Congress.
Nepal is considered to be one of the fastest-growing Christian populations of the world. Based on official data, in 1951 Nepal did not have any Christian population and in 1961 we had 458 Christian missionaries. By 2001, Christian population grew to nearly 102,000. Now we have 1.5% Christian of the total population which accounts for 437, 993 (AIN report). This proportion is expected to rise to 3.8% by 2020. Based on some reports there are more than 3000 churches in Nepal. With this growth ratio, Nepal is on the verge of becoming a Christian nation.
Politicians and bureaucrats have become greedy, cunning, and disillusioned that communal and appeasement politics in the name of pseudo-secularism is the everyday way. The elite, educated, class who had a special hand in this cultural decline of the country do not know that they are insulting Goddess Saraswati by calling themselves intellectuals. The Christian-controlled media is silent.
The Constitution was imposed on the people by force from above and it is not the people’s mandate. Let people go to referendum to decide what kind of religious freedom they want. Under the principles of Lord Shree Pashupatinath, Nepal is identified as a Vedic Sanatan Hindu nation, which is in the form of a God-goddess, Shiva Bhoomi, Gyan Bhoomi, and Gorakhbhoomi. Nepal is the land of many temples where millions of Hindus visit each year.
Although the anti-Hindu ideology and the anarchist tendencies of the Left caused Nepal to lose its reputation of being the only Hindu nation in the world and declared Nepal a secular nation, most of the leaders from the political parties receive money from Christian countries, and these members have plotted to declare Nepal a secular nation. The country is going through a very dangerous phase. Religion serves as a foundation for a free society. Religion without culture is no religion and nation without religion is no nation.
Due to political instability, rampant corruption and poverty are everywhere. Christian missionaries are using venerability in our society and convince the vulnerable to follow Christ. These sick, poor and broken families see the hope and start following Jesus Christ. Most of the rural Nepalese are poor and they do not have any means and resources. They cannot even fullfill their basic needs. People without resources trust God more than people with money. These people are the easiest to manipulate. Poor people often believe that God helps and protects them. It is nothing but economic seduction of the helpless people.
Most of our leaders forget that Hinduism is the foundation of human civilization. There will not be the basis for the existence of Nepal without the Hindu religion. Over 81% of Nepal’s 28 million people are Hindus and they were not asked what kind of religious freedom they want. People of Nepal were forced into secularism even as 81 % of Hindu people are not ready to embrace secularism easily.
Secularism is an insult to the 81% of the population, that is Hindu. Secularism is such a disease that will only destroy this country. The most special feature of this disease is that the person who suffers from it feels that he is healthy and the rest of the people are sick.
There are 17 countries that enjoy the form of Christianity as a special status. Around 24 Islamic countries, and few as Buddhist nations. The sad reality is, Hinduism is the world’s oldest living religion on earth and does not have a nation of its own. A million dollar question is — why is there not a single Hindu nation?
Deepak Raj Joshi
(The author is a lecturer and IT, consultant. He also writes fiction under the name of Kapeed Joshi. He can be reached by email at [email protected].)
Populism: Democracy’s Honey Or Poison?
Politicians in the House are busy performing political acrobats without the support of rational arguments to cover all the issues people are facing in the country. Each party looks selective in sorting data that only supports the predisposition already embedded in their head by their political agenda. Populism is based on exploiting the wide ignorance of people.
Populism is a rapidly growing global phenomenon in recent years and Nepal is also its victim. Populism has become one of the 21st-century political keywords. Last year, at the end of November 2017, the Cambridge Dictionary stated that populism is the most searched and spoken word of 2017.
In the dictionary of sociology, populism is defined as “a peculiar form of political rhetoric, which considers the primacy and political validity of the people, views the dominant elite as corrupt, and that political goals are best achieved by means of a direct relationship between government and people, without the intervention of existing political institutions.” (Abercrombie et al., 1998).
In reality, whether you like it or not, Populism does not have a concept of a good political or economic system and it pushes the country toward unproductive and tendentious debates. Politicians in the House are busy performing political acrobats without the support of rational arguments to cover all the issues people are facing in the country. Each party looks selective in sorting data that only supports the predisposition already embedded in their head by their political agenda. Populism is based on exploiting the wide ignorance of people.
Just popularity is not enough for politics. Rich elites share the political power to manipulate the rules of the economic game, undermining democracy. If you want to succeed in politics, then only name, money and fame are not available for it. The first is enough if the politician is able to develop his political program based on people’s instincts and reactions.
Politicians are influencing ordinary people’s emotions and wanting to gain support from uneducated people even in cases where they do not have the knowledge they could reasonably be able to make.
Politicians often turn to the tools of demagoguery, fear, and prejudice to win their support. This kind of populism tells us that this part of the political elite is despising the ordinary people. Although the political participation of ordinary people in democratic societies is decisive, the political elite does not demand political parties, so the people understand things, it’s more about the voter’s feelings. The formulated reasoning is logical and true.
Well, the formulation of democracy cannot be perfect, yet in today’s politics, especially in a liberal democracy, populism is considered the greatest enemy of daily politics.
Both politicians and people addicted to populist policies take into account their short-term interests.
There were words about which populist ideas best pass in the region, which politicians are most flirting with the people, the connection of populism with nationalism, the use of the anti-corruption slogan for populist purposes. Or the extent of populism in Nepal!
The main characteristic of populism is belief without proof and majority opinion that does not suffer any questioning. Most of the time In political discussions and in the media, the concept of populism is often mentioned as a threat.
Populist leaders usually form a person’s cult around themselves. They are trying to establish direct and direct links with the people who they claim to represent and direct their hopes and fears. Needless to mention the name but e do see such leaders in most of the political parties in Nepal.
Modern populism has more complex goals and makes more radical statements than that of its predecessor. A central ingredient of populism is nationalism, the source, after religion, of the deadliest wars humanity has suffered.
In the political sphere, populism often leads to the destruction of democratic institutions: populists have the opportunity to gain a foothold in power on the wave of short-term achievements, but as the situation deteriorates, they abandon democratic procedures, promising prosperity as they defeat external and internal enemies.
Political populism threatens progress. It always is accompanied by economic populism (irresponsible fiscal and monetary policies, manipulation of property, etc). Populism is a policy aimed at protecting the interests of the common people and offers simple solutions to complex problems. It works best in societies with a high level of dissatisfaction with the power policy and low level of political education of citizens.
Political populism is an instrument in the struggle for power, but its economic consequences are not unambiguous. The party, which comes to power on the wave of populist slogans, can pursue any economic policy.
In politics, a lie is not accepted, at least by definition but making that is the truth is a marketing and marketing is a beautiful illusion.
Populists do not offer intelligent solutions, instead – some fantasies. The political orientation is not important for populism, because it does not care about the truth and concrete proposals for changing the situation in one area or another for the better. Populism is a manipulation of feelings made by charismatic leaders. The more politicians try to connect with the emotions of the people, the more they move away from what the people want. Populism is not an ideology. It is nothing but a trick.
Populism is the manipulation of feelings made by charismatic leaders. They do not have intelligent solutions but only have fantasies and it is an instrument in the struggle for power. Our Democracy is becoming victim of populism. The main characteristic of populism is belief without proof. Our political analysts believe that communism is just a threat to liberal democracy and freedom, but in reality, populism is a real threat. For these populist so-called leaders, the political orientation is not important, because they do not care about the truth and concrete proposals for changing the situation in one area or another for the betterment of all. Populist politicians always speak against the elite or against the bureaucracy. Populism is to politics what fever is to life. Populism is not exactly a disease, it is a symptom, it is politics that brings fever to life.
Nov. 23, 2018, 8:34 p.m. Published in Magazine Issue: VOL 12 No.08, November 23, 2018 (Mansir. 07, 2075) Online Register Number: DOI 584/074-75
Plastic Politicians, Polyester Parties
Plastic Politicians, Polyester Parties
Traitors infest the Nepalese political class and voters think all politicians are corrupt. The voters’ low ideological alignment with the parties, especially in municipal elections, is another reason that guarantees a politician with a few agitators when it comes to changing parties or even position.
By Deepak Raj Joshi
Aug. 18, 2018, 12:35 p.m. Published in Magazine Issue: VOL 12 No.03, August 17, 2018 (Bhadra 01, 2075) Online Register Number: DOI 584/074-75
It is no secret that democracy is a form of power exercised by the people, for the people and by elected representatives for that purpose. According to the latest International survey of Transparency, majority of voters, regardless of which party they sympathize with, believe that all politicians are corrupt. One-third of the Nepalese people believe that all politicians are corrupt, including the judiciary, legislative and executive body, along with the prime minister and his cabinet. According to Transparency International (TI), Nepal ranked 131 out of 176 in corruption.
At the end of the day, the people of Nepal want to lead Nepal to the 21st century and to build a country that is not divided by ideological struggles but with common goals.To have a solid base, political party must rely on an ideology. Many people follow political parties without knowing their thoughts or their doctrines. The true substance of a political institution should be based on an ideology. We are experiencing a political crisis marked by acts of corruption, influenced by peddling, bribery cases, ideologically false ballots, and tax evasion.
In Nepal, parties do not have clearly defined ideologies, so it is easy for politicians to use the bravado that the change of position was for the good of the city, when in fact, the main interest is not a common interest, but the particular, as said by political scientist Leandro Petrin.
Traitors infest the Nepalese political class and voters think all politicians are corrupt. The voters’ low ideological alignment with the parties, especially in municipal elections, is another reason that guarantees a politician with a few agitators when it comes to changing parties or even position.
One of the issues that have always caught my attention in Nepalese political arena is the frequency of political infidelity. Politicians often change sides. And when they do, guilt does not seem to exist. One of the fundamental values we judge when evaluating the character of a politician is his fidelity to ideas, parties, and institutions. Fidelity is related in politics to values and promises. It is considered politically loyal by the voter who manages to maintain his partisan commitments and is able to obey the rules of honor and honesty of his environment. A faithful politician does not betray the party, is constant and loyal to his ideas, and does not negotiate in the dead of night with other parties. He is considered genuine if he does not yield to his principles, but must always be in tandem with those of his party. But instead of finding out who is the loyal politician, it is more important to know what political allegiance is, how we perceive it in politicians and what it means to them. In the voter’s imagination, when a politician subscribes to a party, he accepts a position within him and acquires a duty to the party. The people of Nepal are tired of the same empty rhetoric, full of phrases and lines that lead nowhere.
Most of our politicians have false followers in their social media account who were bought using social network cheat. All they are doing is maintaining their privileges. Citizens are caught in the middle of the political dispute between few parties.
Our professional politicians are part of a vast aristocratic and criminal clique in its anti-democratic and anti-humanist pursuits. The country is full of pseudo-democracies where everything is perfectly framed by laws designed to protect a handful of leaders and the doctrines they have created. Everything is done so smoothly that the power never escapes from them. No matter what happens to the country everything is good for keeping them in power.
It is not too late for political leaders to change their minds and work for the true welfare of humanity. Someday soon these politicians will end up in the trashcan of history. A degraded democracy, in which citizens have the impression of freedom, is as incomprehensible as an authentic dictatorship.
Most of our politicians turn out to be ‘plastic politicians’ or simple, prefabricated products produced by polyester parties. Our society, by default, is very rich in values like honesty, exemplary behavior, sportsmanship, tolerance, responsibility, reputation, discipline, work ethic and mutual cooperation. These values are supposed to be respected and adhered to by all elements of society but we feel all these values are violated in the name of the political game.
Dark Side Of NGO
Dark Side Of NGO
July 21, 2018, 7:29 a.m. Published in Magazine Issue: VOL 12 No.01, July 20, 2018 (Shrawan 04, 2075) Online Register Number: DOI 584/074-7
Do we need non-profit organizations in order to speed up our social development? This is a question that needs to be answered carefully. Non-profit organizations have made their place in some important parts of the general public and their voices seem to be rising in public debate.
NGOs are considered to be an important means of connecting with the public. There is no doubt that these non-governmental organizations have played an important role in the development of socio-cultural consciousness and curiosity in the country. However, due to the overwhelming nature of NGOs, questions have started arising regarding their functionality. More questions are being raised about International NGOs (or INGOs) and their loyalty towards the nation. Due to not adhering to foreign donation rule, restrictions are being imposed on some NGOs.
Since the 1980s, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have expanded throughout the world, opening up an important political, cultural and socio-economic space in almost every corner of the globe. It is estimated that there are now more than 10 million NGOs on the planet. According to information officer of SWC Nepal has 480090 NGOs and 230 INGOs as of 2075. This number is what the government has in their database. There is one NGO for every 600 people in Nepal.
Combating poverty and illiteracy, protecting the environment, health issues, promoting civil liberties, protecting human rights and educating people are indeed good aspects of non-profit organizations but like two sides of the same coin, NGOs also have a dark side. Actually, NGOs working on such a large scale in a small country like Nepal is a reflection of the government’s failure. If the government is weak to solve a problem of the nation, the workers themselves could take up the task of solving the problem. This would create possibilities of improving the government. NGO or non- governmental organizations can be considered an important part of the country, as they are operated both by the government and by subscribing to citizens of developing countries like Nepal.
NGOs are considered as an inconsistent institution in fighting for the principles of transparency and public accountability. On the one hand, many NGOs speak out against the importance of transparency and accountability in every public policy, yet at the same time, NGOs themselves are not transparent and accountable to the public, including staff and beneficiaries of the program. No wonder the anomaly then makes some people busy asking: “How and what exactly are these NGOs working on?” Other intriguing questions that have been raised are questions like “what do the NGOs search for from some of its controversial publications?” Some of these questions ultimately summarize a number of weaknesses and criticisms for these NGOs.
The negative image of the NGO phenomenon is still quite warm today if you look at the history of the new order of the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), which sounds quite ‘haunted’. In that sense, anyone working in an NGO should be ready to be labeled as ‘enemy’ state, and therefore is to be considered as a fighter for the interests of the people.
Why should foreign assistance be provided to non-governmental organizations working in the country? It is also a matter of pride for the country. How long are we to continue spreading a begging bowl in front of other countries to resolve problems discovered by them? What is the capacity of people who want to work for their country to solve problems related to their own country? If a single group of people in the country is not getting any kind of monetary support, how can such organizations claim to work for the country? This is the situation in Nepal. The government needs to investigate the activities of all the NGOs receiving foreign aid so that a fair society and a national social aid fund can be established to assist organizations that do real social work and have outcomes as proof of their work.
There is no such area in Nepal where NGOs have not set their footprint. According to a study done, NGOs and INGOs in Nepal have made an annual income of more than 35 billion rupees in areas including empowerment of human rights, women, education, tribal, diminished, poor, and excluded and marginalized communities. Mainly USA, UK, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, India, and other countries are running the INGOs.
Foreign debt is a serious problem for the government. If a country has foreign debt problems, other debt-related problems arise with regard to principal and interest payments on these foreign debts. The government should seek to increase export and growth of these foreign exchange reserves (to higher income countries) so that debt habit can be reduced. Better and creative utilization of existing resources is not dependent on any assistance or aid from foreign nations.
Dangers of Foreign Assistance or Foreign aid for financial development are
the most dangerous path for countries of the entire world. Mankind will continue to suffer as long as they take foreign aid, as this type of debt makes the country developed from the outside but empty in the inside. And if the country is debt-ridden, the citizens suffer the most as they become handicapped.
Nepal has not been able to escape the debt trap. Dark times are not waiting for us in the future, but are already present. This does not mean that situations will stay like this forever. Our nation is naturally rich and with education and opportunities, the younger generation can help build an independent country, which never has to search and then beg for aid from foreign nations. An independent country will always give way to independent people.
There Is Frequent Political Intervention In Schools And Universities In Nepal” Dr. JEET JOSHEE
“There Is Frequent Political Intervention In Schools And Universities In Nepal” Dr. JEET JOSHEE
Dr. JEET JOSHEE is the first Nepali-American to hold the prestigious position at California State University, Long Beach USA. Joshee, who was born in Bandipur, Tanahu in western Nepal, attended Bhanu High School , Bandipur, Tanahun. He left Nepal in pursuit of higher education to the United States some 33 plus years ago. He got his first master Degree from School for International Training in Vermont, USA and second Master degree and Doctoral Degree in International Development Education form University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was an Assistant Dean at University of Connecticut and was appointed Dean in 2005 at Cal State San Bernardino. Now is he is Associate Vice President for International Education and Global Engagement and Dean of the College of Professional and International Education at California State University, Long Beach. He is also a the President of the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) and also affiliated for a long time with the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), European Association of International Education (EAIE) and Asia-Pacific Association of International Education (APAIE). Dr. Joshi spoke to DEEPAK RAJ JOSHI about his education, career, experience and home country. Except: July 16, 2018, 12:42 p.m.
Who or what has been your greatest inspiration?
My parents and elder brothers taught me the difference between right and wrong and instilled the value of education in my mind early on in my life. I knew that a good education was the golden ticket to a bright and secure future personally but also to have a meaningful life. So, my inspiration came especially, from my father and family. Later on, my children were also a great source of inspiration for me as I saw them grow up to be responsible individuals and good contributors to the society.
The work I do and the people I work with around the world are also quite inspiring. I learn every day from the differing points of view I hear and the diverse set of people from all cultural backgrounds and nationalities that I work with. I strongly believe that our world is better and interesting because of the diversity of cultures, languages, opinions and people. Life will really be quite boring and dull if we all had the same likings, opinions and did the same things.
Would you please describe your responsibilities that you now have in the University?
I have a dual role and title in my university as Associate Vice President and Dean. As Associate Vice President, I am the Chief International Officer of my university. In this role, internationalizing my university and creating global learning opportunities for our students is a key part of my responsibility. CSULB has over 60 university partnerships around the world and I work with these universities to develop programs for our students, faculty and staff. We send over 1,100 of our students every year to different parts of the world for study-abroad. We also host almost 3,000 international students in my university from 100 different countries including Nepal. I oversee and manage staff and service units to support our international student body and programs globally.
As a College Dean, I oversee graduate and undergraduate degree programs that are geared towards adults and working professionals. My College also offers Certificate and professional education programs that teach job oriented practical, technical skills to people who are not interested in earning a degree. As a result, I work with many industry and businesses to meet their employees’ training needs.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
As a teacher-administrator, being able to help our students realize their educational goals is the most rewarding part of my job. As an example, when I meet our students who return from study-abroad program and tell me that the opportunity opened their views of the world and that it transformed their life, I feel overjoyed and feel lucky that I played a small part in their wonderful experience. I also meet many prospective students from many countries wanting to come to CSULB for their further study. When I meet the same student on campus and learn that I was able to help them in their life-journey makes me realize I do an important and meaningful job.
Of course, I am lucky that I work with so many wonderful people in my university as well as my colleagues around the world. The work of an international educator is extremely important as the world gets more interconnected and more interdependent. No one nation or a group of people can solve major global issue by themselves. It requires collective efforts. Having better understanding between people from around the world is key to that collective effort. So, I feel that what I do as an international educator is more than just doing a job. International education programs help foster better understanding among different cultures and people and I feel good that I play a small part in it.
What are the main challenges in your position as Associate Vice President and Dean?
Although Cal State Long Beach is a public university, the state government funding for our university is not sufficient to meet our needs. So, funding and resources are always a challenge. Additionally, many of my programs run with no state funding and therefore we need to generate enough revenue to cover all costs. It is not an easy task as the head of the division, but I enjoy the challenges.
I oversee about 150 staff and faculty in my college. Having to manage a large operation is very complex. Being a manager requires all kinds of skill sets. Getting cooperation from all stakeholders can be challenging and at times daunting. But I know it is part of the job. I get paid to solve those complexities.
My university, Cal State Long Beach is quite large with 38,000 students and over 5,000 faculty and staff. California State University is also the largest university system in the United States with 23 universities and nearly half a million students. So, I work in a bureaucracy which creates challenges. There are times that I feel it would be great if I could just do my job, but it is not that simple.
Working with external constituents and global partners requires knowledge and understanding of different viewpoints, cultures and values. At times, what seems straight forward can be more complicated in a different cultural context. To be an effective leader one needs to have a clear vision, excellent management and leadership skills and being able to tend to multiple issues at the same time. These are challenges I face regularly.
What motivates you in your career?
I tend to see that every challenge presents an opening for new opportunities which gets me going all the time. I get to be innovative, I get to be entrepreneurial and I get to meet and work with people from around the world. As an educator, I also believe that I am making a difference in our students’ lives. That keeps me motivated more than anything. I also enjoy what I do. Without the enjoyment, it will be hard to be motivated.
What should be the main function of a university?
Teaching, research and service are the three major pillars of a university. But at the end of the day, every university’s main job is to help its students succeed – personally, academically and professionally. Everything we do in the university is about our students – helping them to be critical thinkers, and to be productive member of the society. As educators, our job is to make sure that we have provided every opportunity to our students to acquire knowledge and skills so that they can lead a meaningful, productive life.
Universities are also places for inquiry, a place to create new knowledge through research, a place for innovation. Through teaching, research and service, universities should serve its people, community, the country and the world.
What are some of the things your University is doing to internationalize the university?
Our focus is on our students. We are creating opportunities for our students to study-abroad. We have established scholarships so that they can travel and study at different place and gain the world view. Our goal is to double our study-abroad participants in the next few years.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, we have students from 100 different countries who adds tremendous global diversity at our university. We also have many foreign-born professors who are well connected with many international organizations and universities. Students, faculty and staff organize many cultural events on campus throughout the year that brings the world to our university.
We have also initiated a program called, Professors around the World – through which we fund our faculty members to travel and create learning opportunities for our students. Through this program, our faculties members have developed new programs and helped create global partnerships.
What is your view on Nepalese education system and the changes which have taken place in the education sector over the years?
Nepal has gone through many reforms in the last few decades in its education system and certainly made some progress, especially increasing the country’s literacy rates. Although there is some gap between male and female literacy rates, the overall improvement is noteworthy.
However, the overall education system still seems to be a work in progress in all sectors from primary to secondary to higher education. The quality of education in the public or the government run schools and universities continues to be of great concern. They seem to have not improved if not deteriorated. Also, the qualities of education in many private schools that are overtly profit oriented are questionable. There seems to be a gross neglect on regulations and lack of accountability. There are enough policy regulations but having policies alone do not solve problems or address to the issues. Effective implementation and management of those policies are much more important.
Qualifications of teachers in all sectors and consequently the quality of education are a paramount issue. While the education plan seems to address the need to train more teachers, the actual implementation of that plan does not seem to be carried out. Lack of funding in rural areas hurts those schools more than the ones in the urban areas. I have heard that teachers don’t get paid for months in many schools which I am sure affects negatively how the schools are run. Education must be the top priority for Nepal’s government in order to develop the nation, but it continues to suffer because of bad management, lack of planning and proper implementation.
We have gone through many political changes in Nepal. In your view how has it affected the Nepali education system?
Instability in the government, when the administration changes every six months, or every year is not a good thing for any country. Nepal seems to have been going through that cycle for quite some time now. How can one plan or see through what is planned when the tenure of the Education Minister keeps changing. Every time there is a new government, there is a new Education Minister who wants to do things differently, wants to bring new people. Before anything is put in place, there might be a new Minister due to the instability in the government. So, this is a destructive cycle. I am sure this situation is creating a state of uncertainty and a do-nothing environment.
Political instability hurts even more in Nepal’s context due to the weak public schools and university system. The educational institutions it seems are dependent of the political system and cannot function by themselves. I also think that the government certainly needs to legislate, make policies and ensure they are properly implemented, but the task of educating and management of educational institutions should be left to qualified educators, teachers and staff. There is too much political intervention in schools and universities as if the political parties and their leaders themselves are running the schools and universities. Political influence in educational institutions is a very unhealthy environment for the education sector in Nepal.
What is your view on the explosive growth of private educational institutions in Nepal? How do they affect the education system?
Private schools and universities play an important role in Nepal’s education system as they are increasingly serving a large group of Nepali students. To an extent, private schools are actually partially fulfilling the government’s education goals and people’s need by educating many students without taking any government funding. So, if done right, to an extent, private institutions, especially the ones that maintain high quality standards could be a good thing for Nepal. But private institutions alone will not solve the myriad of issues facing the education system in Nepal.
Having said that, it also depends on what kind of private institution we are talking about. There are good ones and there are bad ones. There is a wide held perception among parents that private schools provide better quality education than the public schools. This is not necessarily true of all private institutions. There are many private schools in Nepal which is operating solely for profit-making purposes rather than providing good education. So, there needs to be a strong regulatory measure taken by the government to oversee these private institutions. On one hand, almost all private schools are far more expensive than the public schools, and on the other, if they are operating only to make money and not provide good education, this will hurt people and the country. The excessive tuition and fees charged by the private institutions is also an issue from an accessibility perspective. Because only those with money who can pay will have access to private schools. And we all know majority of people in Nepal do not have the income level needed to pay for the expensive private education. So, the growth of private sector education in Nepal can be viewed with both lenses – good and bad.
People think that there is huge gap in the quality of education between public and private institutions? If you think there is this huge gap, what are some of the suggestions you provide to narrow that gap?
As I said in the previous question, there is this perception that private schools provide better quality of education. And it is true that many private schools seem to provide much better quality as it is indicative in the results of the national examinations. Students in private schools seem to be better prepared as the national exam is one indicator of quality. But when you set the bar too low in the comparison, as it seems to be the case for overall public schools, the claim of better quality in the private schools does not provide a true picture. Also, the claim of quality is not true of all private schools. There are also variations among public, government run schools. Some are better than others. Nonetheless, there is a gap if you consider the overall picture.
I think whether it is private or public sector, issues such as teacher training, better school infrastructure, sufficient funding and a major focus on student learning should be addressed to improve the quality of education. Issues in public education system including the issue of quality must be addressed by the government as the public sector serves an overwhelming majority of population.
Recently nationalism has been a widely-discussed topic in Nepal. What are your views on this as someone who was born and raised in Nepal?
It is not only in Nepal; the wave of nationalism is going around the world lately. Nationalism in-itself is not a bad thing – if it can unite people and bring a sense of pride about your country and your identity. But if the nationalism slogan is used to divide people, spread separatism, denigrate unity, it could be a very bad thing for any society and country. I have followed to some extent, the Terai, Madhes, Pahad and so forth movements in Nepal. To me those movements are regionalism or separatism than nationalism. They also seem to be highly politically motivated movements. These types of so called nationalism movements divide people than unite, bring chaos instead of peace and harmony. So, I don’t think movements like that in Nepal help anyone including the leaders of those movements.
Talking about the nationalism, I also want to stress the fact that we all are increasingly living in an interconnected and interdependent world. So, I would like to see more globalism than nationalism. We cannot live in isolation as some of the nationalism movements I have observed tend to advocate for such ideas. In my view those isolationist movements are destructive.
What do you do to stay true to your Nepali roots?
I am not sure if I can fully claim that I have stayed true to my Nepali roots when I have been away for so long. But I care deeply and stay connected to what is happening in Nepal. I also stay engaged with many Nepali organizations in the United States. I volunteer and contribute in activities related to Nepal. When the earthquake hit in 2015, one of the organization I am active in, the Friends of Nepal Los Angeles raised almost $25,000. I know it was a small amount in the scheme of things and the magnitude of devastation in Nepal, but we helped the Nepal Red Cross, brought food and blankets to villages and helped rebuild a children’s learning center and the high school in my home town Bandipur. I do these things when I can to not forget where my roots were and where I began my life’s journey.
I admit that it is not easy to stay connected with Nepal constantly. I have lived in the United States longer than I have in Nepal. So, my personal friends, my professional network and life are in the United States. I try my best, do what I can. For example, my kids largely grew up here but that did not stop me in trying to instill some Nepali values in them while they were growing up. I told them to never forget that they came from Nepal. I told them even if you forget, people will still ask – where are you from. And they have to say – from Nepal. I am an American citizen, but I am also a Nepali-American.
Tapping Generation Z
Tapping Generation Z
Disappointed over current politics, due to the excesses of their traditional schemes, young people look for options to solve their problems and express their opinions. By Deepak Raj Joshi
June 25, 2017, 8:03 a.m. Published in Magazine Issue: VOL. 10, NO. 21, June 23- 2017 (Asadh, 2074)
Generation Z, the demographic group born between 1995 and 2010, represents 25.9% of the world population. Running between 7 and 22 years today, these people are our future. They are generally distinguished for being highly tolerant as they value diversity and believe in individuality. They live on five screens, moving quickly from TV to cell phone, iPad, laptop, video game console and, sometimes, using all of them at the same time. This generation is on Facebook, Instagram, Viber, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Emote and Snapchat. They are self-sufficient, as they have always had the technology nearby, and use it to investigate and solve problems on their own. They need everything, right now. They are believers of succeeding on their own. Most importantly, Generation Z is characterized by a strong commitment to social issues — most of them practice volunteering and care about the sustainability and impact of the human beings and human values on the planet Earth.
Gen Z is on the rise. These young people are very aware about integration and diversity, and for them the defense of sexual, gender, or religious equality is something inescapable. They are self-taught, creative and overexposed to information. The Z’s see the world through their screen, they are exposed to more violence, knowledge and possibilities than any other group. A clear example is the heroic bravery of Malala, who at the age of 16 was already an advocate of the right to education.
In Nepal 52% of the population falls under the age of 7 to 24. Hence, Zen Z accounts for the largest segment of our country. Zen Z should be an important force in the process of political change and progress in Nepal. Democracy is supposed to be about choice, freedom and hope and what kind of hope can we have if a leader who is 65 and above is leading this nation. Most of these old leaders never had the potential. They promise everything but never deliver on even a single one of their promises and have never been accountable for their actions.
Love and hate, the two contrasting words best define politics and its younger addressees. Politics is the foam in this social network and expressed freely without overtures or restrictions. Young people reach the age without ever having been politically baptized. Young people have their own frailty but still remain open, available and generous. They are no longer prisoners of ideologies as the previous generations were. They long for authentic relationships and seek the truth but because it is not so in reality, they live their lives hoping they will find it in themselves.
Generation Z were born social. In fact, nearly 92% of Gen Z has a digital footprint. They are a “global” generation with high expectations. They desire more independent work environments. They are highly educated, diverse and want to make a difference in the world. Based on a research study, 72% of Gen Z say they want to start a business someday.
The current crop of young people likes to be a part of the decision-making and not simply toe the line. They like the “win-win” schemes; are able to compromise but first have to be convinced. This generation is the next strategic target for anything we want to achieve. They are capable of changing the rules of the game in the political, economic and social contexts.
They grew alongside anti-political slogans such as “they do not represent us” and “let everyone go”, and, therefore, show a high level of political skepticism, though they do care about social and humanitarian problems. As far as politics goes, they do not have much confidence in our current government. The change is not going to happen overnight, but a government that embraces polarization and arbitrary party platforms will further alienate Generation Z voters.
Generation Z are also called C generation because C stands for Connected, Creative, Collaborative and Communicating. Unlike Gen X, Gen Z create more than they share. The debates on the generations are becoming more and more important. The only way to meet the economic, ecological, technological, social and political challenges is to tap the energy of Generation Z.
At the end, the positive economy is an economy serving future generations, which promote responsible, sustainable and inclusive growth, respectful of the environment and serving society. The positive economy of today is truly the heart of the economy of tomorrow; it is both what is pushing into the underground of the planetary society and the fundamental element of response to the major crises that we are experiencing today.
Ranju Darshana (Generation Z) effect is a perfect example of when indifference makes a big difference in society. Disappointed over current politics, due to the excesses of their traditional schemes, young people look for options to solve their problems and express their opinions.
It is not only young people but the whole society, in general, has moved away from political life. Most of the Nepalese people repudiate the formal structures of politics in Nepal. To resolve the apathy of young people towards politics, young people of Nepal must be given opportunities for participation. Young people now feel that it is virtually impossible to influence the country’s political decisions, which ultimately results in the feelings of discomfort. Young people move away from political parties because these parties are not practicing democracy from within to hear ideas, debate them, and refine understanding.
The huge gap between the older and younger generations that has emerged in our country in the past decade is largely explained by the reluctance of young people to engage in dialogue and debate with older people. All forms of political activity among young people have been curtailed to almost nothing, but the level of political immobility was raised to the extreme limit. Loss of clear social attitudes and political apathy have caused the information gap in the structure of consciousness.
All the new features of Generation Z have become more important with the fact that in 2020, this group will constitute 36% of the global workforce, and by 2050 it will be the largest age group. They will be the engine of the new global economic environment. In fact, this generation wants to change the world and has a greater vision of the future. In short, they are more realistic, more global and more digital than the previous generations. There is a generation that wants to save the world, but still does not know how. We have to show the correct path and prepare them so they can lead and make a difference. These people hate politics but still pin their hopes in the game.
(The author is a lecturer and IT consultant. He also writes fiction under the name of Kapeed Joshi. He can be reached by email at [email protected].)