A gourd between two stones : unlearning Nepal as a small state and reconceptualising it as a small power

Abstract

Decolonisation and the fall of empires has led to the formation of small states in different regions of the world. Most studies of small states have however focused on their characteristic frailties, which have limited their influence in the global system. Nepal’s smallness is similarly manifested, emphasizing its geographic location between two large and competing powers. But such arguments negate an underlying weakness that stems from Nepal’s own resource incapability to oppose or directly compete with the bigger states in its immediate vicinity. This exploratory paper posits that, as a small state, Nepal would do well to reassess its own sources of national power and understand its limitations in order to recognize the roots of its small state syndrome. To fulfil such an objective, the paper maps out Nepal’s national power capabilities, and assesses whether they would be of any help to metamorphose Nepal’s small state syndrome into small power capabilities. This article suggests that, to unleash Nepal’s small power capabilities beyond propaganda and populist discourses, the Himalayan country needs to perceive its neighbourhood not only as the cause of its smallness, but also as an opportunity to strengthen its national power through trade, tourism, connectivity, investment and diplomacy.