A Kingdom Under Seige explains the political and social background to the Maoist insurgency that has embroiled Nepal"s government, political parties, king, police, and army against highly motivated guerilla fighters since 1996. By early 2003, the rebels had come to threaten the central institutions of the Nepali state. The authors describe how a combination of state neglect, political instability and the growth of radical left politics led to a build up of tensions.