English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...

Chapter14Contradiction and duality:Deterring state building inpost-conflict NepalPrabin Manandhar 1Ramji Neupane 21. IntroductionNepal is emerging from violent conflict and currently stands at a crossroadof conflict transformation and status quo. The new Nepal is expected to takeon a federal character, democratic polity and inclusive state. People havehigh expectations of change in terms of secured livelihoods, functioningof state, public security and social justice. At this juncture, this countryfaces a number of challenges including contradiction and duality on majorissues for state building. This chapter deals with concepts, internationalexperience, state building challenges and Nepalese experience oncontradiction and duality. It also offers suggestions on how Nepal couldmanage contradiction and duality for state building.Conceptually, many people are uncomfortable with contradictions.Contradictions are largely perceived as a misfit within elements, betweenthem, between different activities, or between different developmentphases of a single activity (Kuutti 1996). They have also been characterisedas conflicts (Dippe 2006), as tensions (Basharina 2007; Berge and Fjuk 2006)and as historically accumulating tensions (Engestrom 2001). Contradictionsemerge as disturbances which are visible manifestations of contradictions(Capper and Williams 2004). They are confrontations, opposing ideas,disruptions, problems, as well as ruptures, breakdowns and clashes inactivities. However, Engestrom (2001) argues that contradictions are notsimply conflicts and problems but are historically accumulating structuraltensions within and between activity systems. They generate not onlydisturbances and conflicts, but also innovative attempts to change theactivity and/or the proposition in question. Contradictions are importantnot in and of themselves, but because they can result in change anddevelopment.1Director, Canadian Cooperation Office, Nepal and Visiting Faculty, Kathmandu University; prabin@canadanepal.org2Programme Coordinator, Canadian Cooperation Office, Nepal; ramji@canadanepal.org; ramjineup@yahoo.com287