Can a Ministate Find True Happiness in a World Dominated by Protagonist Powers?: The Nepal Case

Abstract

Can a ministate located precariously between hostile protagonist powers achieve a substantial degree of independence in the formulation and implementation of its foreign policy on the basis of its own capabilities, or can this only be the consequence of forbearance on the part of its more powerful neighbors? We have explored the tactics by which one such ministate, Nepal, has succeeded in developing an impressive repertory of responses to the intrusion of unwelcome, and often threatening, external influences: balancing external influences and tacking back and forth between its two neighbors—India and China. The objective is both to minimize the restrictions imposed on Nepal's freedom of action and to contribute to that country's internal and external security. Balance was sought through nonalignment in the disputes between its two neighbors during the past decade and through a process of political and economic diversification that was intended to mitigate Nepal's "semisatellite" relationship to India. Neither policy has as yet been a total success, and there are still important limitations on Nepal's capacity to act independently. Nevertheless, the range of freedom allowed to Nepal has been considerably expanded, and the Nepali leaders have demonstrated their skill in defining the limitations and exploiting them to their own advantage. Thus, we argue, any study of contemporary international politics that did not include an analysis of ministate power would be incomplete.