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Bhutan's experiment with democracy, is it for the worse?
Made Popular Mar 27 2008
# Bhutanese are anxious that democracy could bring in the sort of corruption and mismanagement, as well as ethnic and class divisions that have bedeviled democratic politics in most other South Asian countries.
# In a neighborhood beset by autocracies and violence, Tibet, Nepal, Bangladesh and Burma, this Himalayan nation with its monarchy has remarkable environmental and economic success story.
# No one wants democracy in Bhutan but being sandwiched between the Asian giants India and China it needs a change to survive.
RSS 
In South Asia, no country, except India, has experienced democracy with good taste. India is surrounded with all democratically failed states and Nepal is the recent example. Now Bhutan is the new entry in the list. It is India's duty to help Bhutan in establishing democracy in Bhutan, otherwise it will face the same fate.
(Global Perspectives)
Democracy would hopefully give Bhutan a chance to interact with the modern world means, people of Bhutan would use not only TV, but mobile phones and the internet too. I mean they will get both good and bad things from outer world. Now. its up to the people of hilly region what would they take and what is good and bad for them.
(Global Perspectives)
I don't think so, the population of about 630,000 people are not ready for democracy. They can go on Nepal or Pakistan way - terror outfits and agencies like ISI can make the country as their base by putting their own men in country's elections.
(Global Perspectives)
Where are the political parties and politicians in Bhutan? The prospect of self-governance and democracy are sending negative signals to other countries and to peace-loving people in Bhutan too. People are asking what is the need of having politicians when they do corruption only. King should always be there to decide what is right and wrong for his people. Most of the countries in the region is facing problems while experimenting with democracy.
(Global Perspectives)
Bhutan now has a chance to see the world in a different perspective and this also might mean the end of the restrictions on media which might give the Bhutanese a chance to mingle with the world’s population. Let us not write Bhutan off as yet. Democracy always brings out something good for countries and it certainly may, for Bhutan too.
(Global Perspectives)
Bhutan moving towards democracy is a tribute to the Bhutanese monarchy's foresight. It has shown remarkable degree of maturity to give up absolute control over the country and its people.
This will go a long way for the people of Bhutan to get what they desire and cut down the dissent that had been simmering for quite sometime now.
I see all positives happening to Bhutan and its citizens than anything bad.
This will go a long way for the people of Bhutan to get what they desire and cut down the dissent that had been simmering for quite sometime now.
I see all positives happening to Bhutan and its citizens than anything bad.
(Global Perspectives)
The Gulf rulers must take an example from Bhutan and implement people's rule. Terrorism will also be reduced if countries like Saudi Arabia goes democratic.
The absolute monarchs are the worst of all the corrupt government heads. Under absolute monarchies, corruption thrives more than one can imagine. There is no accountability.
The absolute monarchs are the worst of all the corrupt government heads. Under absolute monarchies, corruption thrives more than one can imagine. There is no accountability.
(Global Perspectives)
Yes I agree that Bhutan's experiment with democracy will backfire. People who are used to live under control for centuries cannot be expected to behave like responsible citizens of a democratic country. This will mean chaos and indiscipline within various institutions within the government.
It would be interesting to see how the democratically elected Bhutanese parliament works with people's representatives putting forward their agendas.
It would be interesting to see how the democratically elected Bhutanese parliament works with people's representatives putting forward their agendas.
(Global Perspectives)
Bhutan has shown Nepal exactly what it could have achieved if it went its way. It is highly regretable that Gyanendra chose to cling on to power untill he was shamelessly stripped of his military title and kicked out of the government as its executive head by popular uprising.
My only concern is how the new government treats the Nepali refugees in Bhutan. There are tens of thousands of them living in sub-human conditions where they have no access to basic amenities. The world too seems to have forgotten them. They are perhaps the worst treated refugees in South Asia if not the whole world.
My only concern is how the new government treats the Nepali refugees in Bhutan. There are tens of thousands of them living in sub-human conditions where they have no access to basic amenities. The world too seems to have forgotten them. They are perhaps the worst treated refugees in South Asia if not the whole world.
(Global Perspectives)
i have a feeling that it was india's engineering in bhutan that turned it into a democracy.. there wasn't any long or vocal demand for democarcy in the himalayan kingdom.. this serves india best because it can now carry out its fight against the northeastern terrorists who had been using bhutanese soil as their bases that will now be termed as a decision of the people of bhutan and also to counter china that has been increasing its activities in the indo-nepal-bhutan tri-juncture..
good move by india.. good move by the bhutanese monarchy.. good move for the people of bhutan too..
good move by india.. good move by the bhutanese monarchy.. good move for the people of bhutan too..
(Global Perspectives)
So two cheers for Democracy: one because it admits variety and two because it permits criticism. Two cheers are quite enough: there is no occasion to give three. Only love the beloved Republic deserves that.
- Forster
Bhutan has started a new chapter of sustaining the good work it has been doing so long.
- Forster
Bhutan has started a new chapter of sustaining the good work it has been doing so long.
(Global Perspectives)
As the picture itself says - Democarcy is like getting ruled by many kings. It depends on what form, whether socialism or capitalism they are going to choose. Even then True democarcy is nowhere to be seen.
(Global Perspectives)
Bhutan is among those lucky kingdoms where King has relinquished his absolute power without people making him do so. Of course it will some time before people of Bhutan really understand that the importance of democracy, but they would never have done so had this not happened.
It is far better to be ruled by many kings as many kings itself mean that no one is King.
It is far better to be ruled by many kings as many kings itself mean that no one is King.
(Local Perspectives)
One feels a kind of sadness that the last bastion of innocence, that is Bhutan, is on the road to corruption.
(Global Perspectives)
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Bhutan needs to cherish democracy but should maintain the ethical standards of having a clean government if the nation wants to progress. It is a journey and a transition to change how things are working.
But the imperfections of democracy are illuminations that give us the impression that we are living in a world full of struggles and challenges. So learn to swim well in the daily burdens of life to survive.