Suchergebnisse

Bhutan's Gross National Happiness (GNH) is often dismissed by its critics as being an instrument for policy elites to address 'national security concerns' that started to threaten their grasp on the state around the turn of the millennium. This study problematizes this line of criticism that relegates GNH to an 'invented tradition' of recent origin. For this purpose, this study draws on Roy Wagner's notion of 'invention' that draws attention to how various sets of meanings are brought together. A historical analysis of the country's development plans points to several origins of GNH, including 'Buddhism and Bhutan's traditional socio-economic system' and 'outside concepts' holding sway in international debates on development. GNH has undergone a long and gradual process of elaboration in view of Buddhist mores and development discourses, while also taking into account national security concerns. This study concludes by warning against the reductionistic stance of GNH critics, in favour of a more balanced perspective that captures the multiplicity of the origins of GNH.

This article examines the early years of democratization in the small Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Once a reclusive country, Bhutan embarked on a gradual path of socioeconomic modernization and opening up to the rest of the world. A most significant step on that path was the decision to democratize. The first national democratic elections were held in 2007–2008. In 2013, the second national elections took place and marked an appropriate moment to assess the progress of democratization in Bhutan. This article not only analyzes the electoral experience but also evaluates what has occurred in other areas of democratization including the rule of law, accountability of government, civil society, and freedom of expression. The article concludes that Bhutan has made good progress in democratization on many fronts but that its trajectory is unique, reflecting the particular context of Bhutan and the overriding concern with stability in political and social life.