NEPAL’S COMPLEX GEOPOLITICAL position demands exceptional diplomatic skill to navigate an increasingly uncertain and rapidly changing global order. Rajib Upadhya’s newly published book, Giants at the Gates, offers valuable insights into the transformation of the international system, the evolving role of middle powers and the strategic priorities of rising powers such as China and India.
As the Dragon and the Elephant assert greater influence in Nepal’s neighbourhood, Kathmandu faces the delicate task of maintaining constructive relations with both powers while safeguarding its national interests. At the same time, the Bald Eagle’s eyes towards Nepal adds another layer of complexity to its pursuit of a balanced foreign policy.
The book’s discussion of middle powers is particularly relevant. Middle powers are increasingly described as “swing states” whose positions may shift according to their interests and the circumstances of the emerging global order. Their collective influence could potentially provide a counterweight to great-power competition. Yet, differences in national priorities, ‘eternal and perpetual’ interests, territorial concerns, partnerships and relative power continue to constrain the possibility of meaningful middle-power solidarity.
The book also explores the evolving relationship between the major powers. The idea of a G2 (some historians and economists have also termed ‘Chimerica’) – a framework in which the United States and China cooperate in managing global economic stability and major international challenges – has periodically surfaced in debates about the international order. However, strategic rivalry and competing interests continue to shape the relationship, leaving the global system in a state of considerable uncertainty.
It is this combination of pull and push factors that keeps the international order in flux. For smaller states such as Nepal, the consequences of geopolitical shifts can be disproportionately significant. A seemingly minor diplomatic decision can acquire
Book Details Book: Giants at the Gates Author: Rajib Upadhya Publisher: Fine Print Price: Rs. 1,098
strategic implications when major powers are increasingly attentive to security, connectivity and influence in the region.
Nepal’s vulnerability is compounded by its limited hard-power capabilities. It does not possess significant military or technological power, while its influence in global knowledge production and agenda-setting remains constrained. In such circumstances, the effectiveness of its soft power, diplomacy and strategic communication becomes especially important. Nepal must carefully assess the consequences of every major foreign-policy decision and develop the diplomatic stewardship necessary to maintain the confidence of competing powers without
compromising its own interests.
This is particularly important given Nepal’s domestic political history. Since the restoration of multiparty democracy, successive governments have been formed and replaced amid persistent political instability. Foreign-policy debates have often been accompanied by allegations that particular governments or political actors are excessively close to one or another major power. Such perceptions can carry serious consequences for a country that cannot afford to be seen as a proxy or strategic extension of any external power.
One of the important messages emerging from Giants at the Gates is therefore the need for strategic autonomy rather than strategic alignment. Nepal’s relations with its neighbours should be guided by national interests, mutual respect, sovereign equality and a consistent diplomatic doctrine.
The book reaches back into Nepal’s diplomatic history, examining treaties, relationships and the evolution of ties with major powers. This historical perspective provides useful context for understanding how Nepal has sought to preserve its sovereignty while maintaining amicable relations with powerful neighbours.
The challenge for contemporary Nepal is to sustain that diplomatic tradition amid a far more complex geopolitical environment. The country must demonstrate that maintaining balanced relations does not mean equidistance from every issue, nor does engagement with one power necessarily constitute hostility towards another. Rather, it requires issue-based diplomacy, strategic clarity and the ability to communicate Nepal’s interests consistently to all sides.
Giants at the Gates is therefore particularly relevant at a time when global power is being redistributed and traditional assumptions about international relations are being tested. For Nepal, the central question is not how to choose between competing giants, but how to protect its national interests while living next to them.
