Nepal Study Center

Economic Reforms & Democracy in Nepal
Prem Khanal

Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, National Endowment for Democracy; author of An Analysis of Public Expenditure in Nepal (2005) & A Study on Government Plans, Programs & Budgets Affecting Children in Nepal (2002)
Powerpoint Slides

Friday, February 8th
12:00 — 13:00 pm
Social Sciences Building Room 2069
Department of Political Science, UNM

Drawing on his background as an economic journalist, Mr. Khanal's talk focuses on the significance of political resistance to economic reform in four major sectors — finance, governance, labor, and resource allocation — and the effect this resistance has on the development of a stable democracy.

Seminar Title: Civil Society Actors, Social Movement and Regime Change: A Success Story From Nepal

Dr. Devendra R. Panday, December 8, 2006

Powerpoint slides
A short video clip of the movement
[Courtsey: UNM graduate students, Prakash Adhikari (political science), Ananda Regmi (electrical engineering), and Mani Nepal (economics)]
Program flier

Seminar Paper, pdf version: Social Movement, Civil Society and Regime Change in Nepal
(Revised version.)

(Source: nepalnews)
(Development Economist, Former Finance Minister of Nepal, Former President of the Transparency International Nepal, Civil Society Leader, and Coordinator of Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace)

Organized by The Nepal Study Center in collaboration with the Department of Sociology, Department of Political Science, International Studies, and Peace Studies of the University of New Mexico

Location: SSCI 2069, Department of Political Science, University of New Mexico
(Second floor, Social Science Building behind the Zimmerman Library)
Time: 2:30 p.m. on Friday Dec. 8, 2006.
For more information, please contact:
Maria Daw: 277-5304
Joann M. Buehler: 277-2821

Some useful links about Dr. Panday:

Social Movement and Media Watch
Asia Media
CMDP to seek citizens' opinion on poll boycott
Activists barred from meeting Dr Panday

On Economy
Nepal's Failed Development: Reflections on the Mission and the Maladies. Devendra Raj Panday. Kathmandu: Nepal South Asia Centre, 1999, viii and 432 pp.
Foundational issues in Development Partnership

On Corruption
Transparency International, Nepal Chapter

On Aid Dependency
Democracy, donors & diplomats

Seminar Title: Economic Development and Conflict in Nepal
Dr. Shankar Sharma, Feb. 24, 2006

(Source: nepalnews)
(Economist, Former Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission of Nepal)

Draft of Summary Presentation: Development and Conflict in Nepal by Dr. Shankar P. Sharma

Date: February 24, 2006, Time: 3:00 pm Room: 1052

Building: Economics Bldg. #57
(Social Sciences Bldg.)

This presentation will try to examine the development challenges resulting from conflict in Nepal and present some of the reform initiatives introduced to improve the socio-development activities in the country.
For more information, please contact:
Maria or Sarah: 277-5304

Seminar Title: In Defence of Democracy
by Dr. Ram S. Mahat, October 27, 2005

(Source: nepalnews)
(Economist, Finance Minister of Nepal)

Nepal Study Center at UNM organized a talk program in collaboration with Peace Studies, Dept. of Political Science, International Studies, the Water Resources Program, and the Department of Economics (Oct 27, 2005). Dr. Mahat gave two talks:

1. Political Economy of the Arun III Hydro Power Project
This talk in the afternoon was attended by about 50 students (graduates and undergraduates), and was moderated by Professor Jennifer Thacher. Dr. Mahat highlighted various interlinked political economy complexities: domestic politics, environment, and the donor culture. Many insightful questions livened the discussions.

To view the paper, please click here: The Loss of Arun III

2. Nepal: Which Way from Here? Democratic Experience, Insurgency and the Prospects for Development

Later that afternoon, Dr. Mahat gave a very impressive talk and educated the audience about the Nepali situation. His talk, among other things, focused on the evolution of democracy and its significance in unleashing unparalleled Nepali entrepreneurial ingenuity during the brief 12 years of democratic era.

Program Flyer
Program Itinerary
Video Clips