| dc.description.abstract | This thesis is a comparative analysis of the presence of China and India in Nepal across the economic, political, social and strategic fronts. I administered elite interview as a core data collection technique which primarily included Nepalese intelligentsias, commentators and opinion makers. I have focused on the development, operationalization and controversies of Chinese and Indian aid, infrastructure and soft power diplomacy in Nepal. As this thesis explores, it is interesting to see the great power convergence in Nepal and Nepal’s own strategies and tactics in balancing the presence of these powers for its own survival. I essentially discuss on Nepal’s attempt to strategic hedging where it pursues limited or ambiguous alignment with great powers especially China and India to safeguard itself from strategic and economic vulnerabilities. This thesis further shows how the geo-strategic location of Nepal is significant in South Asia both for regional and extra-regional actor(s) and how Nepal attempts to leverage its location maintaining the neutrality and non-engagement in power bloc politics. I have argued that China and India have a competing interest over Nepal, both trying to influence the political, economic and institutional resources. As compared to China, India has a lesser need of soft power diplomacy in Nepal mainly due to the existing cultural and linguistic affinity, political brackets and an unparalleled open border regime between them. However, with China’s inevitable rise as an emerging global power, it is clearly presenting itself as a more active neighbor of Nepal if not an interventionist, contesting with India’s traditional influence in Nepal. | eng |