Nepal, April 18 -- The rise of authoritarian leaders and politics around the world is often attributed to the rise of extremely harsh and judgmental identity politics currently motivating the political left. Whether it is Donald Trump in the USA or Marie Le Pen in France, commentators insist, these leaders would have never gained such widespread appeal had it not been for the reactionary thrust provided by identity politics.

I see a similar trend, albeit on a smaller scale, playing out in Nepal's politics and fear that it might not be too long before we get our own Trump, eager to exploit the divisions currently at play. Identity politics, with its singular focus on group interest based on race, ethnicity, gender, and religion, among oth...