Human Security in Nepal: Concepts Issues and Challenges

Nepal is passing through a historic transition from a unitary kingdom to a plural, democratic, multi\-religious, multi\-lingual, multi\-ethnic, multi\- cultural, republican, federal, secular, sovereign and modern nation\- state, embracing the aspirations of the Nepali people. During this historic transformation process, there are many political, social, economic, security and cultural issues that need to be restructured in line with the changed political, security and social context.

Bishnu Raj Upreti: A Master in Sociology (Tribhuvan University), M.Sc. in Management of Knowledge Systems and PhD in Conflict Management (1998-2000) from the Wageningen University the Netherland, Dr Upreti worked as Post Doc (2001-2003) at the Department of Defense Studies of King’s College/University of London. In 37 years of professional career, Dr. Upreti has gained wide experiences from local to international levels. He served as South Asia Coordinator of a global research programme called NCCR North-South, served as a Senior Researcher in South Asia and Africa focusing to conflict, peace and unconventional security. Currently he is co-leading 3 global research projects operating at Asia, Africa and Latin America. He is Adjunct Professor at Agriculture and Forestry University and visiting faculty at Kathmandu University. He has supervised 19 national and international PhD students. Currently he is Research Director at Nepal Centre for Contemporary Research (NCCR). He has published 47 books (written and co-edited) and more than 500 articles in journals, books, and proceedings. Among many others, he is member of Board of Trustees of International Foundation for Science (2014-17), member of Advisory Board of Centre for Unconventional Security Affairs of University of California at Irvine (2009 to date). He is widely quoted in national and international media about Nepal’s armed conflict, peace process and security issues. Dr. Rajan Bhattarai is currently a Member of the Legislature Parliament of Nepal, and is a member of Eminent Persons Group on Nepal India Relations (EPG-NIR). He also served as a Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Nepal from May 2009 to February 2011. He was elected co-general secretary of the Asian Students Association from 1993 to 1996 in Hong Kong and has worked as the secretary of International Department of CPN (UML), which is one of the ruling parties in Nepal.  He completed his doctorate from the School of International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and has a Masters in International Studies and General Diplomatic Practices from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Dr. Bhattarai has co- edited three books, which were all published during his role as the chairperson of Nepal Institute for Policy Studies (NIPS). Geja Sharma Wagle: Security and strategic affairs scholar Mr. Geja Sharma Wagle is the chairperson of the Nepal Institute for Policy Studies a Kathmandu-based think-tank. He did Master’s Degree from Tribhuban University. He served as an advisor to the Prime Minister during the period of 2000 to 2002. He also served as a consultant for the Department for International Development Nepal of the UK government. He is also faculty of the Nepal Army command and Staff College, Shivapuri, Kathmandu and Nepal Army Higher Command and Management Course Nagarkot, Kathmandu. He is the co-editor of Emerging Security Challenges of Nepal 2010. He has also written a chapter each for two books entitled – ‘Changing Security Dynamics in Nepal’ on ‘role of National Security Council in national security policy making’ and ‘Challenges of controlling Nepal Army on ‘security challenges of Nepal’.He writes regularly for Nepali newspapers and international journals and magazines on peace, security and strategic issues.