Small state syndrome in Nepal's Foreign Policy (written in December 2017 for Master's in International Relations, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

1. Small State Syndrome in Nepal's Foreign Policy: An Analysis
A Term Paper
Submitted to
Master's in International Relations and Diplomacy
(MIRD)
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Tribhuvan University
By
Mani Ram Rai
Roll No. 15
Fourth Semester
Small States in International Relations (520)
December 2017
(1,800 words)

2. 1
Small State Syndrome in Nepal's Foreign Policy: An Analysis
Abstract
This paper analyses whether Nepal's foreign policy is characterized by small state syndrome
or not. Although Nepal is not a small country in terms of its size and population, it is still
considered small because of its geopolitical situation. The paper discusses the small state
syndrome in Nepal's foreign policy by relatingMaurice East's characteristics of small state
behavior to Nepal's foreign policy and diplomatic practices.
Key Words: Nepal, Small State Syndrome, Nepal's Foreign Policy.
Introduction
194 sovereign states exist in the world today. They have been categorized as big and
small states. Certain indicators are applied to examine whether a state is big or not. Territory
and the size of population are the two main indicators. Although Nepal is big in terms of its
population and territory, Nepal is considered to be a small state. It is because of its
geopolitical situation between two giant neighbors India and China. The small state syndrome
of Nepal is often manifested in its foreign policy and diplomatic practices. This syndrome can
be analyzed by relating Maurice A. East's seven characteristics of small state (East, 1973, p.
557). They include: low levels of overall participation in world affairs; high levels of activity
in intergovernmental organizations (IGO's); high levels of support for international legal
norms; avoidance to the use of force as a technique of statecraft; avoidance of behavior and
policies which tend to alienate the more powerful states in the system; a narrow functional
and geographic range of concern in foreign policy activities; and frequent utilization of moral
and normative positions on international issues. Small state exhibit above behavior patterns in
her dealings with powerful states.

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1. Identifying Nepal as a small state
Historically, Nepal has been a hostage of geography. It is sandwiched between two
giant neighbours, India and China. Therefore, Nepal's world view is shaped by these two big
civilizations. The total land area of Nepal covers 147,181 sq. km. Likewise, the number of
populations accounts 28,431,494 (2016 projected). Nepal ranks 93rd
largest country in the
world on the basis of land area (countries-of the-world.com). Nepal, however, is identified as
a small state because of its relative smaller size than those of India and China (Bhattarai,
2017, p. 1). Similarly, smallness is a matter of influence. Big countries such as India and
China have high economic and political influence at regional and global level while Nepal's
influence is less than low.
2. Examination of Small State Syndrome in Nepal's Foreign Policy
This section discusses behavioural pattern of Nepal's foreign policy by relating
to East's seven characteristics of small state behaviour.
2.1 Low levels of overall participation in world affairs;
Nepal began to display its visible presence in the international system in the
early 1950s. When Nepal became a member of the UN in 1955, it had diplomatic
relations with only 5 countries in the world – the UK, India, USA, France and China.
A decade after joining the UN, Nepal managed to establish diplomatic relations with
about two dozen countries. Nepal participates in the global affairs through the UN and
regional mechanism. Nepal is a top contributor to UN Peace-keeping troops.
However, Nepal's role has not been effective as Gautam (2013) comments "although
Nepal has been one of the top contributors for four decades, we have not secured any
top executive positions in the UN's Peace-keeping department, and recently even as
force commanders in the field" (p. 20). Moreover, Nepal has been pursuing the policy
of neutrality and non-alignment since 1950s. Nepal remained neutral during 1960's

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Indo-China War, and Indo-Pakistan War of 1947, 1965, and 1971. Recently, Nepal
took non-aligned view of India-China standoff.
2.2 High level of activity in intergovernmental organizations (IGO's);
Intergovernmental organizations are the multilateral forums where small states
raise their collective voice in order to protect and promote their common interests.
Nepal has been actively engaging itself in IGOs. Nepal's engagement with the UN has
been active and meaningful despite its limited size and strength (Hamal, 2014, p.
186). Nepal attaches a great importance to the UN peacekeeping and is a part of it
since 1958. In addition, Nepal became a non-permanent member of the UN Security
Council twice. Similarly, Nepal is a founding member of SAARC. Nepal has
remained a very active and committed member of the SAARC process throughout the
history of regional co-operation. What else, Nepal has been participating in other
global and regional IGOs: namely, NAM, WTO, and BIMSTEC. In addition, Nepal
has been playing a leading role in LDCs and LLDCs forums. However, in recent
decades Nepal's participation in the IGOs has become ineffective thanks to the
political instability at home.
2.3 High levels of support for international legal norms;
The foreign policy of Nepal attaches a great importance to international legal
norms. The conduct of independent foreign policy of Nepal bases on the Charter of
United Nations, international law, and the norms of world peace (The Constitution of
Nepal, 2015). Nepal having ratified a series of human rights treaties and a member
state of the United Nations, is obligated to abide by the principles of the conventions
and uphold the values of fundamental human rights, and ensure equal rights of men
and women (FWLD, 2017, p. 1). Moreover, Nepal is a party to 24 human rights
conventions and protocols, including the seven out of nine core international human

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rights instruments adopted under the aegis of the UN (Hamal, 2014, p.189). Article 51
(b) (3) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015 obligates the state to "implement
international treaties and agreements to which Nepal is a state party". In addition,
Section 9 (1) of the Nepal Treaty Act, 1990 states the treaty provisions enforceable as
good as Nepalese laws.
2.4 Avoidance to the use of force as a technique of statecraft;
Small states do not possess strong military power. Nepal's military capacity is
far weaker than those of its neighbors. Therefore, Nepal maintains its foreign policy
according to the Principles of Panchasheel which avoids using force as a practice of
statecraft. Diplomacy has become the primary tool of executing foreign policy. Nepal
prioritizes peaceful means such as dialogue and negotiation in order to settle disputes
with neighboring and other countries. For an example, during the 2015 border
blockade Nepal only concentrated on diplomatic efforts on removing obstruction at
the border points. The Government of Nepal never stated to the international
community that Nepal was severely suffering from the blockade. Instead Nepal kept
engaging with India at various levels (MoFA, 2016, p.1) in order to resolve the issue
through dialogue.
2.5 Avoidance of behavior and policies which tend to alienate the more powerful
states in the system;
Maintaining a friendly bilateral relations with major powers of international
relations has historically been the foreign policy priority of Nepal. According to the
records of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal had established diplomatic relations
with the Great Britain (1816), USA (1947), France (1949), Russia (1956), Japan
(1956), and Germany (1958).Generally, Nepal tend to formulate friendly policies
towards its big neighbors taking into consideration their security interests. Nepal has

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been supporting Indian ambition to become a permanent member of the Security
Council. Similarly, Nepal firmly supports one-China policy. However, Nepal tends to
adopt assertive foreign policy during crisis such as the Indian blockade in 2015. One
of the principal policies of Nepal is not to use one neighbor against another. What is
more, in the case of major power, Nepal has been adopting friendly relations. In 2014,
Nepal abstained from voting in the Crimea resolution as Russia, a global power was
involved. However, Nepal is reported to have voted against Trump's unilateral
decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It is argued that although
Nepal has occasionally alienate powerful states over a few issues, Nepal has most of
the time supported policy of the powerful states in the system.
2.6 A narrow functional and geographic range of concern in foreign policy activities;
During the British Raj (1858-1947), Nepal sought geostrategic isolation.
Because of structural scarcity (limited resources and limited international potential)
Nepal concerns merely on narrow functional and geographic range. Unlike big
power's active engagement in the global affairs Nepal's interest and engagement is
limited to establishing cordial relationship with two neighbors and major powers,
committed to the UN Charter and Human Rights, active role in the SAARC and
BIMSTEC.
2.7 Frequent utilization of moral and normative positions on international issues.
Two of the main objectives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal are to
play an active role in the United Nation and other international organizations in order
to promote international peace and security and development and to play a positive
and meaningful role in the Nonaligned Movement in the context of a changed world.
Similarly, Nepal pursues its moral and normative stance in the refugee issue.
Although, the Government of Nepal is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee

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Convention and 1967 Protocol, it cooperates with UNHCR to assist refugees from
Bhutan and Tibet. Reportedly, Nepali officials have been maintaining it to be a
gentleman gesture to grant asylum to refugees. Recently, a number of Rohingya
refugees are reported to have sought asylum in Nepal.
Conclusion
Nepal is not a small state in terms of territorial size and population. However, Nepal
is identified as a small state because of its relative smaller size than those of India and China.
In the above analysis, Nepal's foreign policy and diplomatic practices have been discussed by
relating them to East's seven behavioral characteristics of small state. Nepal has rarely not
displayed small state syndrome in international relations but most of the time it has. Nepal
has participated in world's affairs but at minimum level and with lack of effectiveness.
Moreover, Nepal actively engages itself in IGOs and highly supports international legal
norms. Likewise, Nepal frequently takes moral and normative position on international
issues. Having discussed Nepal's foreign policy and its practice, it can be concluded that
Nepal's foreign policy manifests small state syndrome.

8. References
Bhattarai, G. (2017). "No Small Concern". Kathmandu: My Republica Accessed on
December 22, 2017. Retrieved from http://www.myrepublica.com/news/17131/
East, M. (1973). "Size and Foreign Policy Behavior: A Test of Two Models". World Politics,
25(4), 556-576. doi:10.2307.200952
Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD). (2017). Concluding Observations by
Human Rights Treaty Bodies on Citizenship to Nepal. Kathmandu: Author. Accessed
on December 26, 2017. Retrieved from http://fwld.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/01/IEC-material.pdf
Gautam, K.C. (2013). Enhancing Effective Participation of Nepal in International System.
Kathmandu: Institute of Foreign Affairs.
Government of Nepal (2015). The Constitution of Nepal. Kathmandu, Nepal: Kanuni Kitab
Byawastha Samiti.
Hamal, Y.B. (2014). Ecology of Nepal's Foreign Policy. Kathmandu: Nepal Centre for
Development and Policy Studies Pvt. Ltd.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal (2016). A Report on Nepal's Foreign Affairs (2015-2016).
Kathmandu, Nepal: Author.