The lecture will review the democracy debate, which analyses the different theories seeking to explain the rise of democracy in various states and historical times across the world, by categorising these historical-structural explanations into three, sometimes overlapping, groups: the modernist, world-systemic and historical-comparative. It will then review the implications of each of these explanations.

The talk will bring together insights of various historians, philosophers and sociologists,  including Alexis de Tocqueville, Talcott Parsons, Theda Skocpol, Dietrich Rueschmeyer , Barrington Moore, Charles Tilly, Guillermo O’Donnell, Evelyn Huber Stephens and John D Stephens, among others, to analyse the rise of democracy in the world and the rise of a republican Nepal in particular. Chaitanya Mishra was a professor of Sociology at the Central Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, until his retirement in November 2014. Professor Mishra’s wide-ranging interests cover social, political and cultural issues affecting Nepal and beyond. He has also authored and edited 10 books, while contributing articles to numerous national/ international journals. His noted works include Ethnicity and Federalisation in Nepal (co-edited by Mishra and published in 2012) and Nepal ra Punjibad (2006).

The lecture will take place at Kailash Hall, Hotel Shanker, Lazimpat, starting at 3 pm. Admission is open to all. Seats are available on first-come, first-seated basis.