Explaining the success of the Nepal Communist Partymaoist (NCP-M) a comparison of the Maoist insurgencies in the 21st century

The dramatic rise and relative political success of the Nepal Communist Party-Maoist (NCP-M), calls into question the conventional explanations for the success or failure of violent Maoist insurgencies in the current global environment. The Nepalese insurgency ended in relative triumph through a negotiated political settlement that coopted its major demands. Furthermore, the Maoists scored an impressive electoral victory that marked the beginning of a process of complete transformation of the traditional sociopolitical structure of Nepal. By comparing the failed Maoist insurgencies of the Shining Path of Peru and the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army (CPP/NPA) with the NCP-M, this thesis offers an alternative explanation that links the nature of approach taken by a Maoist insurgency to the outcome. The thesis argues that, in order to succeed, an insurgency must first shed the ideological dogma and its emphasis on violent means because of the limits and constraints in executing classic Maoist people's war in the twenty-first century. Instead, they should focus on exploiting political opportunities created by initial military gains while popular support remains high. This thesis also highlights the benefits of employing political negotiations and foreign mediation as a genuine means for achieving both political change and sustainable peace.

Department dc:contributor.department

National Security Affairs

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Poudyal, Shantosh B.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Malley, Michael

Statement dc:rights

• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/4953

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/4953