Himalaya: The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies 

About: Himalaya: The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Identity (social science) & Buddhism. It has an ISSN identifier of 1935-2212. Over the lifetime, 362 publications have been published receiving 2133 citations.

Foreign Labour Migration and the Remittance Economy of Nepal

Abstract: Official statistics seriously underestimate the number of Nepali migrant workers abroad and both the volume and value of remittances flowing back into Nepal from those workers. Original research by the authors suggests that many migrant workers abroad are working illegally and unofficially, and that the bulk of remittances also flow back into Nepal informally and illegally. The scale of remittances, consequently, is at least ten times greater than official estimates indicate (equal to 13 percent of GDP) and quite possibly twenty times greater (equal to 25 percent of GDP). This indicates the need for a thorough reconsideration of Nepal's balance of payments. The authors illustrate how remittances flow back into Nepal unevenly, contributing to growing inequalities, both between regions and between social classes.

Living between the Maoists and the army in rural Nepal

Abstract: Using ethnographic da ta collec ted in a village in rura l Nepal in 2002, thi s article explores the fear that pervades the li ves of the vill agers and the surviva l strategies and creativity that they bring to bear on the extraordinary s ituat ions they are forced to encou nter. Since the esca la ti on of the conOiet at th e enel of 2001, a 'c ulture of terror' has engulfed the li ves of rural Nepal is . The Maoist in surgents have coerceel th em illlo provicling fo od and she lte r, which in turn makes the vill age rs vulnerable to aggression by the security forces who suspect them of collaborating with the enemy. In the context o f the ever-present but unpredictable threat from both s ides of ki llings, bea tings and torture, and the tensions and insecur ities caused by rumour anel counter-rumour, this study examines the depth of fear expe rienced by the vi llagers and the ex tent to wh ich this fea r h as become part of their daily ex istence. [t confirms ex periences frolll o the r parts of the world where the 'routini sat ion of fea r' ha s been show n to have long-term effects on peop le's psyc hologica l hea lth. [n thi s s tudy the effects are seen in change d sleeping patte rn s, chronic illnesses, altereel re lationships with the land , and new ways of soc iali s ing both w ithin the famil)1 and in the w ieler Vill age. But eve n in the vio lat ion of their most intimate spaces-their homes-the villagers have been able to maintain so me degree of control and creative resistance over thei r unwelco me guests through their own soc ia l networks and cultural practi ces.

Laws and Regulations Impacting the Enclosure Movement on the Tibetan Plateau of China

Abstract: Few comprehensive surveys address the evolution of China’s grassland policies, particularly with respect to fencing. As a necessary prologue to such an inquiry, this paper presents the national-level laws and regulations that have structured contemporary property regimes and influenced the rate and extent of the enclosure movement in pastoral western China, with a focus on Tibetan areas. Based on this review of the legal and political framework of enclosure on the Tibetan Plateau, we argue that the intent and sequencing of development policies in pastoral areas has been based on the overriding logic of modernization, privatization, and intensification. This logic promotes and rationalizes policies that reflect the state’s political goals in Tibetan areas, which may have unintended consequences including increased grazing pressure on, and degradation of, the very rangeland resources that are putatively being protected by enclosures. Rather than addressing critical socio-economic constraints in pastoral areas such as population pressures and market distortions, policy makers have focused instead on technical interventions without recognizing the integrated nature of the challenges confronting Tibetan pastoralists amidst ongoing and rapid shifts in their socio-economic situation.