Parallel Governance and Political Order in Contested Territory: Evidence from the Indo-Naga Ceasefire

This paper (joint work with Shalaka Thakur) examines the parallel governance system that has emerged under the protracted ceasefire between the Indian government and the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN. Drawing on fieldwork in Ukhrul district in Manipur, we explain how parallel military and civilian structures co-exist, and the nature of their interaction. In doing so, we evaluate the consequences of this system of shared sovereignty in terms of India’s approach to separatist insurgency management, and to the broader literature on political order after violent conflict. An early draft version of the paper is available at: goo.gl/v8y7n6.