Political Party in Contemporary Foreign Policy of Nepal: A Concept and Praxis of Agency

Background: Foreign policy studies have traditionally focused on state behavior, diplomatic practices, and bureaucratic institutions, often neglecting the vital role of political parties in democratic foreign policy-making. Political parties significantly shape foreign and security policy by incorporating public interests, societal expectations, ideological commitments, and political values into policy preferences. This article investigates the role of political parties as sources of foreign policy ideas and active participants in diplomatic practices, particularly within Nepal’s multiparty democracy. Objective: The study introduces a conceptual framework comprising five dimensions: leadership, ideology and principles, organizational and institutional capacity, party networks, and constituencies and stakeholders. Methods: Utilizing a qualitative and interpretive methodology, it conducts a Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis (CFPA) of Nepal’s major political parties to clarify their orientations, institutional roles, and contributions to foreign policy formulation. Results: The analysis reveals a significant convergence among mainstream parties on principles like sovereignty, non-alignment, Panchasheel, peaceful coexistence, respect for international law, and fostering amicable relations with all nations. However, differences remain in the interpretation, prioritization, and implementation of these principles in policy decisions, reflecting varied ideological preferences, leadership perspectives, organizational capacities, electoral dynamics, and interactions with domestic and international actors. Furthermore, the study illustrates that political party influence operates within constitutional frameworks, bureaucratic institutions, parliamentary competition, coalition negotiations, public sentiment, and shifting geopolitical contexts. Conclusion: Thus, a comprehensive understanding of Nepal’s foreign policy requires considering the interplay among political parties, societal interests, institutional frameworks, and international developments, rather than solely focusing on state institutions or individual leaders. Novelty: By framing political parties as intermediary institutions linking society, the state, and global politics, this framework enhances comparative foreign policy scholarship and establishes a foundation for examining party influence in Nepal and other multiparty democracies.