In a stark illustration of the paradox of power, the Nepalese government’s use of overwhelming force against its own citizens has left it weaker and more vulnerable than ever. The decision to employ lethal violence against protesters has backfired, eroding its authority, costing its leader his job, and emboldening the very movement it sought to crush.
The government operated under the flawed assumption that power is synonymous with force. It believed that by deploying armed police and using live ammunition, it could demonstrate its strength and compel obedience. However, in a modern, connected society, true power often lies in legitimacy and public consent, both of which were destroyed by the crackdown.
The killing of 19 people was not a show of strength but a confession of weakness. It signaled that the government had lost the ability to persuade and had to resort to coercion. This act of violence stripped away its moral authority and handed the protesters a powerful narrative of martyrdom and state brutality, which they used to rally even greater public support.
Now, the government finds itself in a precarious position. Having played its strongest card—lethal force—and failed, it has fewer options left. Its retreat on the social media ban and the prime minister’s resignation are clear signs of this weakened state. The protesters, on the other hand, have discovered the power of their own resolve and moral authority, shifting the balance of power from the government palace to the city square.