In this paper I would like to draw attention to the ongoing serious ethnic conflict in Nepal. An `ethnic conflict' is a dispute about important political, economic, social, cultural or territorial issues between two or more ethnic communities. Some ethnic conflicts involve little or no violence. The violence, in this case, was initiated not by either party to the civil war but by groups fighting on behalf of those who profess a Madhesi ethnicity. These groups targeted both the state and the Maoists, polarizing Terai citizens along ethnic issues that were largely unaddressed during the civil war. At present, the Madhesh part of Nepal is in a chaotic situation. The major groups leading the movement belong to Madhesi community who are multiparty, multiethnic, multireligious, multicaste, multilingual, multigeographical and so on. All demand an equal treatment regarding issues such as caste, religion, or any other social, political, economic values. Apart from the Madhesi ethnic group, other scheduled and deprived groups have also been supporting and expressing their solidarity to this movement, asking the government to fulfill similar demands. The major demands of the conflicting groups seem to be rational and legitimate.

The term `ethnic conflict' is often used loosely, to describe a wide range of intrastate conflicts that are not, in fact, ethnic in character. According to Anthony Smith, an `ethnic community' is "a named human population with a myth of common ancestry, shared memories, and cultural elements; a link with a historic territory or homeland; and a measure of solidarity." At the risk of stating the obvious, an `ethnic conflict' is a dispute about important political, economic, social, cultural or territorial issues between two or more ethnic communities. Some ethnic conflicts involve little or no violence.

Two points should be discussed about these definitions. First, although Smith's conception of ethnic communities is a broad one, it would include many groups defined in terms of religious and tribal distinctions—many domestic disputes and civil wars are not ethnic in character. Second, many ethnic conflicts start out as domestic disputes, but become interstate conflicts when outside powers become involved. In some cases, trouble spills over into neighboring countries. In others, neighboring powers interfere in domestic disputes to protect the interests of their ethnic brethren. Disinterested powers may engage in ethnic wars, which often involve attacks on civilian populations, for humanitarian reasons.

International Relations Journal, Ethnic Conflict in Nepal, Ethnic Communities, Ethnic Divisions, Madhesi Community, Systematic Discriminatory Treatment, Democratic System, Decision-Making Process, Policy Planning Process, Socioeconomic Development, Economic Exclusion, Indigenous Nationalities Movement.