Schizoanalytic 3D Model of Political Realignment in Nepal: Analysing the Rise of the RSP in the 2026 Election

Schizoanalytic 3D Model of Political Realignment in Nepal: Analysing the Rise of the RSP in the 2026 Election | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Schizoanalytic 3D Model of Political Realignment in Nepal: Analysing the Rise of the RSP in the 2026 Election Saroj Gautam, Bidhur Dhakal This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9300660/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract An unprecedented "Gen-Z uprising" overthrowing the government, followed by a snap election marked by high-stakes political struggle between major established parties and the new ones were the main reasons Nepal's general election 2026 generated considerable attention home and abroad. This election marked a pivotal moment in Nepal's political landscape, showcasing the downfall of traditional parties and the ascendance of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as a major political force. The RSP's emergence reflects a generational shift that has challenged the dominance of established three parties, while also rejecting regional identity-based politics prevalent in Madhesh. Political studies highlight a shift toward populism and widespread discontent with traditional institutions as key factors behind such scenario. However, these interpretations may fall short of encompassing the complex socio-economic and psychological factors behind Nepal's election results. Considering this gap, this paper proposes a new analytical framework inspired by the Schizoanalysis of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, framing political realignment as deterritorialization- where traditional parties lose their foothold resulting in the emergence of new. We introduce a "3D model" consisting of Dissatisfaction, Diaspora, and Digital Technologies, which are identified as independent variables influencing voters. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research incorporates an analysis of electoral data and constituency-level studies across ten high- and low-technology penetration areas, complemented by political discourse analysis. Findings indicate that the RSP’s rise correlates strongly with public dissatisfaction, mobilizations from the diaspora, driven through digital platforms. This integration of Schizoanalysis within political studies provides vantage point for exploring electoral dynamics in the digital age and the role of transnational citizens in shaping political transformations within fragile democracies like Nepal. Nepal Election Electoral realignment Schizoanalysis Digital populism Diaspora Network Voting Behavior Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9300660","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":617110849,"identity":"2bf34aeb-9e84-4ed8-b28b-6bc69fe35c5f","order_by":0,"name":"Saroj Gautam","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA/UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACCRjjA7oAfi1sDAyMM4A0D1FaGKBamHmI0SLffvbhAwuGWnmD+81PN9tU2CXuZ2A+eJuHwS4PlxaDM+nGBhIMxw03HGMzu51zJjmxh4Et2ZqHIbkYpxaGNDYJCYZjjBuOMZjdzm07ANTCYybNw3AgsQGXw/qfgbXYbzjG/u225T+QFv5veLUw3ADbUpO44RiP2W3GBrAtbHi1GNx4xmwgYXAgeeaxnLKbPceSjXsOsxlbzjFIxuOwNMbHEhV1tn2Hj2+78aPGTra9vfnhjTfAoMPpMCBgljA4jMyFBAtewPiBoQ6/ilEwCkbBKBjZAACuXlJTIYvsxAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"East China University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Saroj","middleName":"","lastName":"Gautam","suffix":""},{"id":617110851,"identity":"7e4763ef-80d5-40f2-b610-36bda45c2e29","order_by":1,"name":"Bidhur Dhakal","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"East China Normal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bidhur","middleName":"","lastName":"Dhakal","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-02 08:56:02","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9300660/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9300660/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107096588,"identity":"47851e47-ca92-4d0a-88fc-b121f14441f1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-16 17:25:41","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1552711,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"AnonymisedManuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9300660/v1_covered_8c192bda-d5f9-476c-bc6c-c630ddc8de49.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Schizoanalytic 3D Model of Political Realignment in Nepal: Analysing the Rise of the RSP in the 2026 Election","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Nepal Election, Electoral realignment, Schizoanalysis, Digital populism, Diaspora Network, Voting Behavior","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9300660/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9300660/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eAn unprecedented \"Gen-Z uprising\" overthrowing the government, followed by a snap election marked by high-stakes political struggle between major established parties and the new ones were the main reasons Nepal's general election 2026 generated considerable attention home and abroad. This election marked a pivotal moment in Nepal's political landscape, showcasing the downfall of traditional parties and the ascendance of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as a major political force. The RSP's emergence reflects a generational shift that has challenged the dominance of established three parties, while also rejecting regional identity-based politics prevalent in Madhesh.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolitical studies highlight a shift toward populism and widespread discontent with traditional institutions as key factors behind such scenario. However, these interpretations may fall short of encompassing the complex socio-economic and psychological factors behind Nepal's election results. Considering this gap, this paper proposes a new analytical framework inspired by the Schizoanalysis of Gilles Deleuze and F\u0026eacute;lix Guattari, framing political realignment as deterritorialization- where traditional parties lose their foothold resulting in the emergence of new.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe introduce a \"3D model\" consisting of Dissatisfaction, Diaspora, and Digital Technologies, which are identified as independent variables influencing voters. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research incorporates an analysis of electoral data and constituency-level studies across ten high- and low-technology penetration areas, complemented by political discourse analysis. Findings indicate that the RSP\u0026rsquo;s rise correlates strongly with public dissatisfaction, mobilizations from the diaspora, driven through digital platforms. This integration of Schizoanalysis within political studies provides vantage point for exploring electoral dynamics in the digital age and the role of transnational citizens in shaping political transformations within fragile democracies like Nepal.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Schizoanalytic 3D Model of Political Realignment in Nepal: Analysing the Rise of the RSP in the 2026 Election","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-06 06:56:19","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9300660/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"60c8b08b-c972-41e3-befe-589cedf8ab9e","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 6th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-16T17:24:56+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-06 06:56:19","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9300660","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9300660","identity":"rs-9300660","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}