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Synopsis The Maoist armed conflict which started in February 1996 has challenged the centuries-old feudal socio-cultural and political system and the nation is at a crossroads of fundamental transformation. In the part 10 years of the armed conflict, the state has taken different approaches such as integrated security and development. Killo Sera II. Cordon. Search and Destroy. Creation of a special armed police force, mobilization of military, imposition state of emergency, fixing bounty on heads of Maoist leaders, formation of unified command, creation of village defence committees to foil insurgency. However, these strategies have fuelled the armed conflict. Some efforts have also been made to reach negotiated settlement of the conflict such as ceasefire and peace talks, creation of peace secretariat, etc. nevertheless, they were not able to produce desired results. While examining the present Nepalese crisis, the important questions are: How and why did the Maoist insurgency emerge? Why did the past two negotiations fail? What are the initiatives taken so far by political parties, civil society, and media in resolving this crisis and what are the opportunities for conflict transformation? Attempts have been made in this book to answer these questions. The political landscape has further hanged from the unrealistic ambitions of the king to autocratic norms and values, keeping main political parties away, creating fear from the use of state security apparatus, controlling media, ignoring human rights and imposing restrictions. The royal takeover has divided the political power into progressive forces and feudalistic forces and the nation is in a severe confrontation between progressive forces who want to change Nepal as an inclusive, modern democratic nation and regressive forces who want to obstruct state restructuring process and progressive change. This book sheds light on these issues. Finally, this book outlines possible future scenario in Nepalese politics vis-?-vis armed conflict.