Bhutan's Evolving Democracy

After about a century as an absolute monarchy, Bhutan now is about to take its place among the world's democracies. The country has gone about it, it would seem by looking at the lacunae in the democratic institutions within India, its giant neighbor and come up with some innovations. For instance, Bhutan has banned anyone without a university degree from standing in its first ever parliamentary elections in 2008, a move which would bar more than two thirds of the current, unelected assembly. Bhutan's Chief Election Commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, said "We would like the parliament of Bhutan to be a very dynamic one as it would be the only law-making body to decide important issues of great national significance."

Whether having graduates as members of parliament will lead to a new breed of law makers or not of course remains to be seen but Bhutan, gingerly wading its way through to a democratic form of governance from its present absolute monarchy status, seems to have recognized that while democracy and representative government is desirable, going India's way and merely having an age bar without any educational qualification is not the way to go.

Bhutan's king Jigme Singye Wangchuck has heard his lessons well from his neighboring kingdom of Nepal where there has been a long and bloody history to win democratic rights. Bhutan's king, if he plays his cards well will go down in history as a king who will gave people a democracy and one that works , without having his hands forced. Bhutan has also been alert to learn about possible aberrations in the democratic process that might occur by keeping an eye of how things happen in India. In Bhutan, the election commission will not allow the private funding of electoral campaigns and individuals, organizations and business houses will be prohibited from donating money to political parties.

To ensure that Bhutan's subjects who have never known or participated in an election, the government has begun coaching its citizens' about the process of participation in elections. In September, Bhutan actually had a three day exercise of mock elections where the major components of an electoral process were all rehearsed.... Political campaigning, voting, counting of votes and declaration of results. As in India, apolitical election officials like teachers officiated in the entire electoral process.

The King has gone about dismantling his own absolute power in a systematic way over the past few years. Seven years ago he delegated power to a council of ministers. Four years ago the task of framing a new Constitution was initiated. Draft of the constitution was circulated among the people and their comments solicited. Elections would perhaps have been held by now, had it not been for the diktat of the royal astrologers who ruled that democracy would not be propitious for the kingdom till 2008. The king bowing to this agreed to have the elections deferred.

In related moves, King Jigme who also pioneered the concept of planning in his country of 700,000 people based on the concept of Gross National Happiness is also abdicating after the elections in favor of his son, the Crown Prince. Bhutan has been an absolute monarchy since 1907 when the grandfather of current King Singye Wangchuk was crowned with British support. Bhutan's steps to pro actively pursue democracy even when a bulk of the country's small population is satisfied with the monarchy and are happy with things just the way they are is an interesting phenomenon.