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Chowdhury, Iftekhar Ahmed (2012), ‘Bhutan: Shades of ‘Shangri-La’ in a Haven of ‘Happiness’’, ISAS Insights, No. 163, May 2012.
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Abstract:
Bhutan conjures up in the mind’s eye idyllic images of a ‘Shangri-La’. In line with this fairy tale perception, it has sought to propagate the concept of Gross National Happiness as a serious index for measuring development. However, there is today a realization in that country that idea-label needs to be matched by performance. Changes are afoot in its politics, economics, and international relations. Cautious reforms on these fronts including modernizing initiatives are rapidly rendering this tiny Kingdom into ‘everywhere else’. So, while ‘Shangri-La’ does not exist [read more...]
Joseph, Mathew C. (2012), ‘China-South Asia Strategic Engagements – 2: Bhutan-China Relations’, ISAS Working Paper No 157.
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Abstract:
Geographic location plays an important role in determining the foreign policy choices of countries. This is invariably true despite the size and resources available to countries. Countries which are fortunate to have access to seas are distinct in many ways from the landlocked states in this regard. If the state is landlocked, small in size and not so rich in terms of resources, the fate of such a state would be all the more precarious. Bhutan belongs to the afore-mentioned category of small landlocked states. The Himalayan country of [read more...]
Bisht, Medha (2012), ‘The Rupee Crunch and India- Bhutan Economic Engagement’, IDSA Issue Brief, 16 July 2012.
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Abstract:
The rupee-crunch in Bhutan may be a purely domestic issue occasioned by poor fiscal policies and mismanagement of economic affairs. However, there is a strong view gaining ground among the Bhutanese that it is primarily caused by their economic dependence on India, sustained by growing economic ties between the two countries. It is, therefore, important to understand the geographical constraints, the limits of the political economy in Bhutan, and the causes of growing Bhutanese disillusionment about ties with India. While it would be an overstatement to say [read more...]
Bisht, Medha (2012), ‘Chinese Inroads into Bhutan: Diplomatic Gimmick or Strategic Reality?’, IDSA Comment published on 14 August 2012.
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Abstract:
The past few months have been an exciting phase in Bhutan’s foreign policy. Some political analysts are questioning Bhutan’s resistance to establishing diplomatic ties with China, while others have asserted publicly that Bhutan-China relations are inevitable and would become a diplomatic reality in the years to come. Amidst these competing voices, Bhutan, for its part, has officially maintained silence over the issue. An obvious pointer to this was the way Bhutan chose silence in the wake of media reports in China and India about the [read more...]
Gallenkamp, Marian (2012), ‘Consolidating Democracy in Bhutan: A Retrospect and a Rebuttal of Democracy Measures’, in Spotlight South Asia (SSA), No. 5.
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Abstract:
When Bhutan became one of the world’s youngest democracies back in 2008, academics and practitioners alike were amazed by the surprising ease with which transition was achieved. Democratization in Bhutan was unique in many ways, and some of the process’ particularities had a decisive impact on the shape of the new polity. The democratic nature of the new political system, however, has ever since been called into question and eyed with skepticism by many large-n datasets that claim to measure [read more...]
Wolf, Siegfried O. (2012), ‘Bhutan’s Political Transition – Between Ethnic Conflict and Democracy’, in Spotlight South Asia, SSA No. 2.
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Abstract:
Until recently Bhutan (Drukyul – Land of the Thunder Dragon) did not fit into the story of the global triumph of democracy. Not only the way it came into existence but also the manner in which it was interpreted made the process of democratization exceptional. As a landlocked country which is bordered on the north by Tibet in China and on the south by the Indian states Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, it was a late starter in the [read more...]
Ferraro, Matthew F. (2012), ‘Stateless in Shangri-La: Minority Rights, Citizenship, and Belonging in Bhutan’, in Stanford Journal of International Law, Vol. 48 No. 2.
Abstract:
It could be said that modern Bhutan sprang from a dream.
In the early 17th century, a monk named Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal of the Ralung monastery in western Tibet clashed with rival religious leaders over who was the true reincarnation of the founder of their Drukpa school of Buddhism. Violence between the claimants seemed imminent, but omens told the Zhabdrung to flee his native land and head south to the area then known a Lho Mon, or the Southern Land of Darkness. In one dream, the Zhabdrung [read more...]
Bisht, Medha (2012), ‘Bhutan–India Power Cooperation: Benefits Beyond Bilateralism’, in Strategic Analysis, Vol. 36 No. 5.
Abstract:
The article argues that as India and Bhutan have moved into the second phase of power cooperation, it is important that the two countries revisit their policies and identify approaches that will be sustainable in the long term. The article emphasises that a sub-regional energy grid between Bhutan, India and Bangladesh can become an effective conduit for strengthening sub-regional diplomacy and help in addressing the latent but underlying concerns of Bhutan, which have the potential to impact India–Bhutan bilateral relations in the long term.
Sonam Tobgye & Thrimchi Lyonpo (2012), ‘The Making of the Constitution and Democracy in Bhutan’, five-part article published in Kuensel on 04, 06, 07, 08 September 2012.
2012 – THE MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY IN BHUTAN
Abstract:
His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck astounded the nation and bewildered the Council of Ministers, the Chief Justice of Bhutan, the Speaker and the Chairman of the Royal Advisory Council on 4th of September 2001 by the pronouncement of the need to draft a written Constitution[1]. Sitting on a simple wooden chair behind the plain table, which were inherited from his late father, His Majesty commanded that:
“Bhutan, through good fortune and fate, [read more...]
Sonam Tobgye & Thrimchi Lyonpo (2012), ‘Law and the Making of Law’, four-part article published in Kuensel on 11, 13, 14, and 15 August 2012.
2012 – Law and the making of law
Abstract:
Dynamic intelligence, speculative minds, misery of pain and shared anguish prompted the search of humans for law and justice[1]. Law has been defined in different ways by various religious leaders and prolific philosophers[2]. His Majesty the Fifth Druk Gyalpo said that “law is not confined to the courts or the legislatures that draft them. Law is like the air that every person breathes at every moment. Its presence is unnoticed but its absence will be lethal”[3]. [read more...]
Hanasz, Paula (2012), ‘The Food, Energy and Water (FEW) Nexus and Gross National Happiness in Bhutan’, FDI Associate Apaper, 13 September 2012.
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Abstract:
The complex interplay of food, energy, and water demand and supply poses numerous policy challenges, especially in the context of expanding population sizes, rising standards of living, and resource management constraints due to sustainable environmental practices.[1] Bhutan provides an interesting illustration of how these issues can be addressed holistically, in a relatively socially responsible, economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable way.
Bhutan is unique in the world for its Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, which has been the guiding set of principles for [read more...]
Gallenkamp, Marian (2012), ‘When Agency Triumphs over Structure: Conceptualizing Bhutan’s Unique Transition to Democracy’, in Heidelberg Papers in South Asian and Comparative Politics, Working Paper No. 68.
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Abstract:
There a few absolutes in political science, but the historical observation that democracy does not just evolve without any form of struggle or demand for it, and the theoretical assumption that countries do not simply embark on the path of transition to democracy without a crisis of legitimacy for the old regime, are closest to being universally accepted. However, this paper will demonstrate how historic precedence can prove theory wrong by analyzing Bhutan’s transition to democracy. [read more...]
Bandyopadhyay, Lopamudra (2012), ‘Bhutan and Gross National Happiness: An Attempt at a Shift in Global Development Paradigm’, eArticle by Global India Foundation.
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Abstract:
Recently, after the conclusion of a high-level meeting on “Happiness and Wellbeing: Defining a New Economic Paradigm”, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on April 2, 2012, Jigme Y. Thinley, the Prime Minister of Bhutan stressed upon the importance of Bhutan’s eternal policy of Gross National Happiness. Thinley further stated that he wanted the international community to realise that a paradigm shift in addressing the issue of sustainability in both the areas of environment and global development is [read more...]
John Helliwell, Richard Layard and Jeffrey Sachs (eds.) 2012, World Happiness Report, The Earth Institute, Columbia University.
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Especially interesting is the chapter on Bhutan by Karma Ura, Sabina Alkire and Tshoki Zangmo (pp.108-148) on Gross National Happiness and the GNH-Index.
Introduction:
We live in an age of stark contradictions. The world enjoys technologies of unimaginable sophistication; yet has at least one billion people without enough to eat each day. The world economy is propelled to soaring new heights of productivity through ongoing technological and organizational advance; yet is relentlessly destroying the natural environment in the process. Countries achieve great progress in economic development as [read more...]
Shneiderman, Sara and Mark Turin (2012). ‘Nepal and Bhutan in 2011 – Cautious Optimism’, in Asian Survey 52 (1), pp. 138-146.
Abstract:
Nepal’s political transition to a democratic federal republic remains incomplete. A November 2011 agreement on post-conflict integration and rehabilitation offers reason for hope. Continued disagreements over the structure of the federal state and its form of government have delayed the constitution-making process. Corruption, impunity, and weak infrastructure combine to erode Nepali confidence in effective governance. Bhutan’s democratic exercise continues to be carefully controlled by entrenched elites, but the country held its first-ever local elections successfully and economic growth stabilized.
Bisht, Medha (2012), ‘Gross National happiness in Bhutan: A Policy in Making’, IDSA Comment, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, 15.03.2012.
The full-text-version of this article is also available here.
Gross National Happiness in Bhutan: A Policy in Making Medha Bisht
March 15, 2012
Gross National Happiness (GNH), a concept largely identified with Brand Bhutan, is set to become a key referent point in shaping Bhutan’s economic and development policies. This became evident during a recent speech delivered by Prime Minister Thinley on February 10, 2012. The speech was on the relevance of GNH and in response to the publication of a new study titled “Initial Estimate of [read more...]
Gallenkamp, Marian (2012), ‘Indo-Bhutan Relations as a Model for Cooperation between Small States and Big Powers’, in FPRC Journal, No. 9, Focus : India and South Asia, Foreign Policy Research Centre, New Delhi, 251-256.
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Abstract:
The bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of India is a truly exceptional example of how mutually beneficial cooperation is possible between two countries that dispose of starkly different power resources. On the one hand there is India, the world‘s largest democracy, second most populous nation, fourth most powerful military and fifth largest economy, on the other hand there is Bhutan, one of the world‘s youngest and [read more...]
Bisht, Medha (2012), ‘Bhutan’s Foreign Policy Determinants: An Assessment’, in Strategic Analysis, 36 (1), 57-72.
Abstract:
This article assesses the shifting preferences of Bhutan towards the foreign policy determinants. Three determinants (national security, political culture and economic engagement) have been studied as they play a significant role in shaping Bhutan’s policy behaviour. These determinants have been analysed with respect to India, Nepal and China, three countries that have been of critical interest to Bhutan’s foreign policy. The main argument of the paper is that when security threats are high or medium, protecting territorial integrity, sovereignty and political culture shapes Bhutan’s foreign policy and, alternatively, when security threats are low, economic opportunities determine Bhutan’s foreign [read more...]
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