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Himalayan People's War: Nepal's Maoist Rebellion
"This is a readable and high-quality book. It provides more information and insight on the most successful Marxist rebellion in South Asia's history than has previously been found within one set of covers." ―David Gellner
The eruption of a violent Maoist insurgency in Nepal in the late 1990s was met with bewilderment even among many who claimed to know the country well. The so-called "people's war" was launched in 1996 by the Communist Party of Nepal to overthrow the political establishment, including the monarchy. Tactics have included killing members of rival parties as well as attacks on police stations, banks, and power installations. The indiscriminate nature of the government's military response has been widely criticized. In 2001, Nepal's political situation came to the attention of Western news media with the murders of members of the royal family. This book provides historical, social, and political background on the movement and related events in this ongoing struggle. The contributors examine the war's origins and antecedents, provide ethnographic accounts from rural and urban perspectives, and draw comparisons with other Maoist movements elsewhere in the world. Includes full text of key documents by the rebels and government.
The eruption of a violent Maoist insurgency in Nepal in the late 1990s was met with bewilderment even among many who claimed to know the country well. The so-called "people's war" was launched in 1996 by the Communist Party of Nepal to overthrow the political establishment, including the monarchy. Tactics have included killing members of rival parties as well as attacks on police stations, banks, and power installations. The indiscriminate nature of the government's military response has been widely criticized. In 2001, Nepal's political situation came to the attention of Western news media with the murders of members of the royal family. This book provides historical, social, and political background on the movement and related events in this ongoing struggle. The contributors examine the war's origins and antecedents, provide ethnographic accounts from rural and urban perspectives, and draw comparisons with other Maoist movements elsewhere in the world. Includes full text of key documents by the rebels and government.
- GenresHistory
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 8, 2010
I thought that the quality of the essays included in this collection was somewhat mixed. The essays on the ethnic and gender dimensions of the people's war were especially interesting, and the introductory essays on the history of Nepali politics were solid. Others (like the essay comparing Nepal to other Maoist insurgencies) did not really seem to adequately address the questions that they raised. Lastly, this book is somewhat dated, written before the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed and the Constituent Assembly was elected, which limits its usefulness for analyzing current events in Nepal. Overall worth a read if you're interested in Nepali history/politics.
January 23, 2008
Very detailed. Lots of info. Slow going, but good for detailed history.
January 30, 2008
A bit dry for a book about war
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews