" But my argument is that even though Ukraine is just as new [in fact, newer] democracy as Nepal, theirs is a more effective and promising democracy because it has had a very educated public to help it build and strengthen its democratic institutions." - The "failure" of democracy in Nepal vis-a-vis Ukraine can be/may be explained by many in many different ways. The interpretation I present is again because of un-freedoms. Sure, we had freedom in paper. But the power-asymmetries remained, didn't it? I mean, what greater proof of that than the Feb 1 coup? This asymmetry impinges on freedom, and that was what we didn't see working. Although, I have to say, I don't totally agree with your characterization of Nepal post-1990. A lot of things did work, and were working, were it not for the power hungry "educated" elite who took it upon themselves to override the status quo with their (distorted?) vision of what should be. That "educated" elite is the Maoist leadership, as well as the Narayanhiti-dwellers and to some extent some other politicos. The "Paper-Freedom" we had was always foreshadowed by "reactionary" forces from the left, the right and the center. In the end, it was our inability to translate the paper-freedom into real freedom that landed us in trouble.