News, Views From Nepal

Yuba Nath Lamsal:-- In the strategic calculus of the 21st-century world, economic interest has dominated more powerfully than anything else. Economic strength reflects a country’s power in international politics. National security, therefore, is tied to the economic security of any country. Be it war or other conflicts the world has seen in recent years, economic factors have been the primary triggers. Alliances and coalitions are made and, accordingly, diplomatic engagements are built. On the surface, such alliances and coalitions appear to be guided by military and political security; the crux behind it always remains the economic interest. Unless a country builds and expands its economic capacity, it cannot play a decisive role in international power politics. Economic engagements shape the level of relations among nations. Economic diplomacy has thus emerged as the most pronounced terminology in the realm of diplomacy and international relations. Economic diplomacy is more impor...

वर्तमान विश्व व्यवस्थाले कोल्टो फेर्न लागेको छ । सन् १९९० को दशकदेखि अमेरिकाको नेतृत्वमा चलिरहेको एकध्रुवीय विश्व व्यवस्थामा परिवर्तनका स्पष्ट सङ्केत देखिएका छन् । सभ्यताको विकाससँगै समय, अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय शक्ति सन्तुलन, आर्थिक तथा प्राविधिक क्षेत्रमा आएको परिवर्तनले विश्व व्यवस्थामा पनि परिवर्तन ल्याउँछ । यो प्रकृतिको नियम हो र निरन्तर चल्ने प्रक्रिया हो । त्यसैले वर्तमान विश्व व्यवस्थामा परिवर्तन आउने कुरा पनि निश्चित छ । यसमा सबै खाले विद्वान्, विश्लेषक तथा भूराजनीतिका ज्ञाता सहमत छन् । जोन मियरसाइमर, किशोर महबुबानी, नोम चोम्स्की जस्ता प्रख्यात विद्वान् र विश्लेषक वर्तमान विश्व व्यवस्था प्रभुत्ववादी भएकाले यसको परिवर्तन आवश्यक छ भन्ने मत राख्छन् । तर केही भूराजनीतिका विद्वान् र विश्लेषक वर्तमान विश्व व्यवस्था र शक्ति सन्तुलनमा खासै परिवर्तन नहुने र अमेरिका नेतृत्वको एकधु्रवीय विश्व व्यवस्था केही दशकसम्म कायम रहने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्दछन् । फ्रान्सिस फुकुयामा, जोसेफ नानी, रोबर्ट कागन तथा फरिद जाकारिया जस्ता विद्वान् र विश्लेषक यो खाले विचारका पक्षपाती हुन् । उनीहरूका अनुसार वर्तमान उदा...

Yuba Nath Lamsal:-- The broader national interest and security are the fundamental guidelines and objectives of any country's foreign policy and diplomacy. National security includes strategic, territorial, political, economic, energy, food, environmental and technological security, among others. In the present globalised, inter-dependent and interconnected world, economic power and competitiveness serve as a powerful lever in the realm of power politics and diplomacy. Economic interdependence and economic interest impact geopolitics and international relations more than any other factors. The level of economic engagement determines the nature of relations between countries. Economic relations around the world are becoming more complex, further complicating geopolitics. Change in the economic order also brings about change in geopolitics and international order. Empires and powers rose and fell in the annals of history with the growth and decline of their economic prowess. Onc...

Yuba Nath Lamsal:--- The power of a state has many forms and dynamics. Country’s geography and physical size, strategic location, military strength, economic might, technological superiority, maritime position, moral and civilisational values, art, culture, literature, political and popular legitimacy, human resource, natural resources, alliance systems, dynamic civil society, free media, academic institutions, education system, and pragmatic foreign policy and diplomatic acumen are some key tools and levers of power and influence in the realm of international relations. These tools of power are categorised mainly as hard and soft power. The hard power is the coercion-based power which includes military, money and muscle or “3M”, which are used and often misused to bring the adversaries to terms. Military assaults, economic and technological sanctions, trade barriers, and travel restrictions are hard-power tactics used by powerful countries in international politics. The use of coe...

Yuba Nath Lamsal:--- Continuity and change are key characteristics of Nepal’s foreign policy. The national interest is the long-term foreign policy goal of any country, which does not change despite changes in governments or even in the political system. However, the tactics, tools and approaches may change depending upon the context and developments in the outer world to achieve the core objectives of foreign policy. In Nepal’s case, despite changes in political systems and regimes in the past, the fundamental interests, goals and priorities of foreign policy have remained unchanged, while consecutive governments may have adopted different styles and approaches in achieving the core dynamics of foreign policy goals. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) government, headed by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, appears to have adopted slightly different styles, approaches and priorities in handling the country’s diplomacy. The first action is the government’s decision to strictly follow a...