Traditional political systems in Mustang, Nepal

In November 1990 Nepal got a new constitution which reinstated the system of multiparty democracy, absent since 1960. It was hoped that the introduction of multiparty democracy would solve the country's political and economic problems. The process, however, has been more painful than expected. To take root and become a sustainable democracy cannot merely be copied from the West, but would have to be based as much as possible on democratic elements of indigenous systems. Unfortunately, little is known about Nepal's traditional, local political systems. The present article tries to close this gap in detail by examining the traditional political system of Syang village of Mustang district.