Discursive Analysis of ‘Yam Theory’: Mapping King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s Essence to Contemporary Geopolitics

Abstract

In the light of Nepal’s geostrategic location between India and China, its physical geography has been described through several discourses and rhetoric. The discourses produce meanings, and they directly affect the political behaviour of a state. One of the persistent discourses explaining Nepal’s geopolitical situation is “Nepal as a ’yam ‘between two boulders” by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. In that sense, the ‘yam’ theory postulates the geopolitical circumstances of Nepal. The research is guided by the primary question of whether the yam theory is still relevant for Nepal in the present context. Examining the importance of 'yam theory' in the geopolitical circumstances of Nepal, the study aims at discursively analyzing the origin and development of the yam discourse, its importance for understanding and comprehending the geopolitical nature of Nepal, and its essence present in the contemporary and evolving geopolitics. Methodologically, the study adheres to the practices in the discourse analysis process, focusing on the origin and development of the 'yam' theory. Adhering to the constructive and linguistic turn in IR regarding the conceptual framework of the study, the research takes the help of historical documents, journal articles, geopolitical review reports, and commentaries to analyse the yam theory’s geopolitical relevance and relate it to the present geopolitical situation of Nepal. This paper first introduces the scope and the rationale of the topic. Notably, the following section examines the origin of ‘yam’ rhetoric as a ‘discourse’ and development as a‘theory’. Following the arguments from the discursive analysis of ‘yam’, the article then traces its essence in the present geopolitical context for Nepal. In conclusion, this research article identifies the relevance of ‘yam’ for Nepal as the strategy for accommodation, balancing, neutrality and equiproximity.

Geo-political Rivalry of Global Powers in Nepal: An Impact Analysis

“…Furthermore, East has noted how small-state syndrome is portrayed, for instance, by their incapacity to handle shocks from the outside world. With Nepal sandwiched between two enormous Asian nations, China and India, several discourses have been assigned to its geolocation, which in turn affects how each discourse is employed in rhetoric (Pulami, 2022). Prithivi Narayan Shah succeeded his father Nara Bhupal Shah as the ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom.…”

Geo-psychology of Nepal as a ‘Small State’

“…Additionally, it gives Nepal a diplomatic and foreign policy framework for navigating competition, hostility, and collaboration in the geopolitical domain (Pulami, 2022). This theory also highlights the continued relevance of Divya Upadesh in Nepal's military, strategic, economic, and internal policies (Pulami, 2022). The geographical imagination of "rocks" by King Prithvi Narayan Shah also suggests the rise of the external powers in the neighborhood of the country.…”

“…King Prithvi Narayan Shah advised maintaining goodwill with both the northern and southern neighbors by referring to Nepal as "yam", which symbolizes the delicateness or susceptibility of the nation due to its geostrategic location (Adhikari, 2015). The traits of caution, gradualism, peaceful coexistence, and friendliness in foreign policy are therefore included in "yam" as a theory (Pulami, 2022). The idea takes into account the primary power-politics strategies both inside and beyond the region.…”

“…The geographical imagination of "rocks" by King Prithvi Narayan Shah also suggests the rise of the external powers in the neighborhood of the country. The identity discourse of "yam" as an indigenous strategic thought during the time of nation-building phase depicts Nepal's self-identity as a country that opts for the policy of balancing between the two major powers at that time (the Empire and the Company): an accommodation strategy, a policy of neutrality, and of equiproximity (Adhikari, 2015;Baral, 2020, Pulami, 2022. Therefore, "yam" is the true self of Nepal, not the geographical imagination of Nepal as a buffer.…”