Democratic Procedures and the Quest for Democratic Culture in Nepal

Democracy is often understood only as elections, parliament, and changes of government. Its meaning is much wider. Democracy is a continuous practice rooted in the protection of citizens’ rights, respect for the rule of law, accountability of those in power, and active public participation in everyday life. As Amartya Sen notes, democracy is not merely the right to vote; it is a living culture of open debate, dialogue, and accountability.

True democracy rests not only on laws but on shared values and public behaviour. Equality, freedom, ethical leadership, respect for minorities, acceptance of electoral defeat, strong institutions, and transparency form the core of democratic culture. Without these, democracy exists only on paper.

As Princeton University political scientist Professor David Jarrett notes, democracy is not just a system of rule but a culture of belief, practice, and accountability. When citizens can question authority without fear and express dissent freely, they become active partners in governance—keeping democracy alive beyond laws alone.

In Nepal, the people’s movements of 1951, 1990, and 2006 established democratic institutions through immense sacrifice. Yet democratic culture remains weak in practice. Power-centric politics, factionalism, impunity, and corruption have reduced democracy to a tool for capturing power. The Gen-Z movement of September 2025 reflected growing public frustration, especially among the youth.

Global experience shows that democracy flourishes where democratic values are practiced daily. Nordic countries have built trust through transparency and ethical governance. India’s active civil society and independent media continue to defend democratic space despite challenges. In countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, democracy has succeeded when leaders have internalized democratic values beyond elections. Ultimately, democracy survives not through procedures alone, but through culture, conduct, and collective responsibility.

In Nepal, democracy and periodic elections have not yet fully realized their potential as effective tools for good governance and accountability. Instead, they have largely become means for political parties to consolidate power.  With few exceptions, most parties remain trapped in factional and clique-based politics. Party statutes are rarely practiced in spirit, and general conventions often serve only to formally endorse decisions already made by top leaders. Amending party constitutions to suit powerful individuals has become routine.

Internal democracy within political parties is weak. Open ideological debate, transparent leadership selection, and meaningful participation of party members remain limited. Decision-making is concentrated in the hands of a few leaders, creating frustration among party workers and deepening public distrust. As a result, Nepali politics has increasingly drifted toward populism and personality-driven leadership.

Political parties are the backbone of democracy, yet the absence of democratic culture within parties has weakened the entire political system. As political scientist Robert Dahl emphasized, participation, pluralism, and accountability are the foundations of democracy. If these values are not practiced inside political parties, democracy at the national level cannot be strong. Therefore, strengthening democracy in Nepal must begin with genuine reform within political parties themselves.

Since becoming a republic in 2008, Nepal has seen fourteen governments, underscoring persistent political instability. After the 2015 Constitution, eight governments—mostly led by KP Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal—have taken office, reflecting a culture of shifting coalitions and fragile power balances.

Although B. P. Koirala upheld democratic culture as a core value, the Nepali Congress has struggled to institutionalize his legacy. The party remains divided over the timing of its general convention. Similarly, despite Madan Bhandari’s vision of People’s Multiparty Democracy, the CPN-UML has yet to fully reflect that vision into democratic practice. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ diluted the Maoist party’s distinct identity by merging it into the Nepal Communist Party, while Madhesi parties continue to oscillate between unity and fragmentation, failing to build stable democratic traditions. It is still too early to judge newly formed parties.

This article does not seek to spread pessimism but to highlight the erosion of democratic culture in Nepali politics. Power-centric politics and the abandonment of principles and ideology for short-term gain are at the heart of this crisis. Internal democratization, transformation, and generational renewal within political parties are no longer optional—they are essential. Without strong democratic culture and practice inside parties, the future of democracy in Nepal remains uncertain.

The rule of law is the strongest foundation of democracy. Laws must apply equally to everyone—rich or poor, powerful or powerless. However, ordinary citizens are frequently punished for minor offenses, while influential individuals escape accountability.

Impunity, corruption, and abuse of power have become serious threats to democracy. The misuse of public resources, lack of action in major corruption cases, and political interference in courts and investigative bodies have weakened public trust in state institutions.

As Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz has noted, when powerful interests capture state institutions, democracy becomes hollow. Nepal has a progressive constitution, but weak implementation has limited its impact. When laws exist only on paper, democracy loses its meaning. Without impartial enforcement of the law and a firm end to impunity, strengthening democracy in Nepal remains impossible.

For democracy to grow as a culture in Nepal, education plays a decisive role. Democratic values such as tolerance, dialogue, critical thinking, and responsibility must be practiced from the school level onward. Democracy should not remain limited to textbooks; schools and colleges must model democratic behaviour in daily life.

Media and social media are powerful tools for strengthening democracy. They inform citizens, provide space for expression, and allow people to question those in power. Free media and open debate are essential for a healthy democracy.

In recent years, however, misinformation, rumours, hate speech, and social polarization have increased. Unchecked content on social media has deepened confusion and mistrust, replacing constructive dialogue with accusation and confrontation.

As philosopher Jürgen Habermas emphasized, democracy depends on a healthy ‘public sphere’ grounded in facts, respectful disagreement, and reasoned discussion. Media freedom must therefore go hand in hand with responsibility. Through fact-checking, balanced reporting, and ethical use of social media, these platforms can become strong pillars of democratic culture rather than sources of division.

Democracy becomes meaningful only when citizens participate actively. The greatest responsibility for protecting democracy lies with citizens themselves. While demanding rights is essential, awareness of duties is equally important. When rights are separated from responsibility, democracy weakens.

Respect for the law, protection of public property, payment of taxes, and observance of social norms are basic duties of democratic citizens. Voting responsibly—free from money, pressure, or emotional slogans—is a vital civic obligation. Peaceful and responsible protest injustice further strengthens democracy.

Democracy cannot move from paper to practice without strong civic values. Its true spirit survives through informed, ethical, and responsible citizens who understand that democracy is not only a right to claim, but a duty to uphold.

In Nepal, democracy has been established as a process, but its culture remains fragile. Democracy is incomplete if it is limited to rights alone. The central challenge today is to build a democratic culture by learning from global best practices while respecting Nepal’s own social realities.

Without daily practice—through active citizen participation, accountable governance, respect for the rule of law, and ethical leadership—democracy cannot move beyond paper. Only when democracy is lived in everyday behavior can it truly become government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Auth0r Baral, writes on education, climate and the environment, information technology, and contemporary issues.