Geopolitics of Buddhism and Its Impact in Buddha’s Birthplace

Nepal, the birthplace of lord Buddha, a cultural corridor, and transmission of Buddhism between Indian and Chinese civilizations is transforming into the geopolitical battleground of Buddhism between India, China and USA on the verge of selection of the 15 th Dalai Lama. The study aims at studying the geopolitics of Buddhism in the Himalayas, the probable conflict between the Dalai Lama Foundation and Beijing regarding the selection of the 15 th Dalai Lama and its implications on the birthplace of Lord Buddha-Nepal. The study adopts Alexander E. Wendt’s ‘Agent-Structure Problem in International Relation Theory’ to analyse the actors of geopolitics and structural culture in the Buddhism geopolitics of the Himalayas. The study is qualitative in design and primarily based in secondary data collected through various journal articles, books and websites. The primary data required for the study are collected through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to understand the Buddhist diplomacy and geopolitics of Buddhism on the selection of the 15 th Dalai Lama. The study discovers that the conflict is inevitable between Dalai Lama and Beijing on the reincarnation of the 15 th Dalai Lama which leads to the selection of two Dalai Lamas. It brings clear division and confusion among the Buddhist communities all over the world which will shape the security and political dynamics of the Himalayas nations. The study confirms Nepal will be more sufferer on the Buddhism geopolitics among the big powers which is more likely to raise question on its non-alignment and neutrality policy.