Conflict, Education and Peace in Nepal: Rebuilding Education for Peace and Development

Increasing inequalities, political movements, and violent extremism cause social and political instability, and education is enormously implicated. This volume explores interactions between education and armed conflict during the 'People's War' in Nepal, arguing that education played a complicit role in the conflict, benefiting the traditionally privileged social groups and perpetuating structural inequalities. The reconstruction should adopt a 'conflict-sensitive approach' to address educational inequity, social exclusion, and political hegemony.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 25 August 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The growing disparities, political upheavals, and violent extremism worldwide have a profound impact on social and political stability, including education. Situated within this broader global context, this volume delves into the intricate interplay between education and armed conflict during the 'People's War' (1996-2006) in Nepal. Building upon theoretical frameworks that explore the multifaceted connections between education and conflict, Tejendra Pherali offers a critical examination of the contentious role of education in the emergence and escalation of conflict, as well as the devastating effects of violence on education. Pherali engages with sociological and political theories to analyze the genesis and expansion of armed rebellion, discussing their implications for peacebuilding and social transformation. He argues that education in Nepal played a complicit role in the conflict, primarily benefiting the traditionally privileged social groups, thus perpetuating the existing structural inequalities that were the primary catalysts of the rebellion. Schools, caught in the midst of the conflict between the Maoists and the security forces, became crucial political spaces that facilitated critical education, providing intellectual strength to the violent rebellion. Exploring education after the conflict, the author advocates for a 'conflict-sensitive approach' to address issues related to educational inequality, social exclusion, and the political dominance of privileged social groups. The volume offers invaluable insights into post-conflict opportunities and challenges for educational reforms that align with inclusive democracy, social justice, and equitable development.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350028753