Drawing on long-term fieldwork in the former Maoist heartland of Nepal, this book studies the war-time social processes during the civil war and their long-term legacy on the constitution of Nepali society.

Provides authoritative background and interpretation of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal.

Based on ethnographic research, this book provides insights on the Maoist insurgency from 1996 to 2006, the impact of the war on every day life in the villages and the effect the conflict had on the area even after the war ended.

Contributed articles on Maoist movement in Nepal.

The book deals with the dynamics and growth of a violent 21st century communist rebellion initiated in Nepal by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) – CPN(M). It contextualizes and explains why and how a violent Maoist insurgency grew in Nepal after the end of the Cold War, in contrast to the decline of other radical communist movements in most parts of the world. Scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds employ a wide variety of approaches and methods to unravel different aspects of the rebellion. Individual chapters analyze the different causes of the insurgency, factors that contributed to its growth, the organization, agency, ideology and strategies employed by the rebels and the state, and the consequences of the insurgency. New issues are analysed in conjunction with the insurgency, such as the role of the Maoist student organization, Maoist's cultural troupes, the organization and strategies of the People's Army and the Royal Nepal Army, indoctrination and recruitment of rebels, and international factors. Based on original field work and a thorough analysis of empirical data, this book fills an existing gap in academic analyses of the insurgency in Nepal.

"Nepal's 'People's War' was launched in 1996 by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to overthrow the political establishment, including the monarchy, and establish a Maoist regime ... In 1999, the Maoists announced the 'Fourth Stage' of their war ... The army was deployed against the Maoists for the first time in late 2001 ... By the time [the first edition of] this book was completed, the war had begun to encroach on the capital, Kathmandu, and in 2003 moves towards peace talks between the government and the Maoists had taken place"--Page 4 of cover.