Democratization by decree: the case of Bhutan

Turner, Mark; Chuki, Sonam; Tshering, Jit

doi:10.1080/13510347.2011.532626

Cited by 56 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…39 In this common explanation there was no economic crisis nor was there any pressure from the international community. 40 The transition was 'peaceful, calm and unflinching' 41 ; and was initiated by the King rather than a 'revolutionary movement or a national catastrophe'. 42 This 'radical step', involving the voluntary reallocation of power was introduced in the 'face of remarkable indifference towards democracy by the people'.…”

Section: Bhutan's Transition To Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

Why monarchy persists in small states: the cases of Tonga, Bhutan and Liechtenstein

2016

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Monarchical rule is said to have become anachronistic in a modern age of legal rational orders and representative institutions. And yet, despite successive waves of democratization having usurped their authority across much of the globe, a select few monarchs remain defiant, especially in small states. This stubborn persistence raises questions about the application of Huntington's "King's Dilemma" in which modern monarchs are apparently trapped in a historical cycle that will ultimately strip them of meaningful power. Drawing on in-depth historical research in three small states that have sought to combine democratic and monarchical rule-Tonga, Bhutan and Liechtenstein-we argue that, contra Huntington, monarchs in small states are neither doomed to disappear nor are they likely to be overwhelmed by the dilemma posed by modernist development. The lesson is that the size of political units is a critical variable too often overlooked in existing studies. Modern monarchs, Samuel Huntington famously argued, face a fundamental dilemma. 1 On the one hand, to promote social, cultural and economic development monarchs must centralise power. On the other hand, such reforms create a new cadre of elites whose political participation threatens to undermine their authority. By delaying modernist reform in favour of traditionalism the monarch can retain authority. But, stymieing progress increases the risk of popular revolt. As a result, Huntington argues, a peaceful transition from absolute monarchy to an electoral regime is virtually impossible. The modern monarch is caught in a perpetual trap that

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Section: Bhutan's Transition To Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

Why monarchy persists in small states: the cases of Tonga, Bhutan and Liechtenstein

2016

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“…There had been no popular opposition to his rule over the previous decade, no elite disaffection, no economic crisis and no foreign interference (Turner et al, 2010). These usual causes of democratization had been remarkably absent.…”

Section: Bhutan's Electoral Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Second Elections and Democratic Consolidation: the Experience of Bhutan

Turner¹,

Tshering²

2014

Asian Journal of Political Science

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This article examines the phenomenon of the second election after democratization in developing countries. Unlike the euphoria that often accompanies the immediate postdemocratization election, the second election gives clear evidence of the progress of democratic consolidation or whether the new regime has incorporated authoritarian elements and become a hybrid. To measure the democratic gains or losses that are seen in the second election, an analytical framework has been adopted comprised of three dimensions: regularity, openness and acceptability. This framework is applied to Bhutan where the second election took place in 2013. The findings are that progress was made on all three dimensions of democratization in the election although some democratic shortfalls were still evident. For Bhutan, the overarching concern for political stability is seen to have greatly affected the design and implementation of its electoral system.

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“…Although the process began in the early part of the twenty-first century and came as a surprise to many, including ordinary Bhutanese, it was actually part of a series of political reforms implemented by the former king during previous decades. 23 Bhutan's transition to a democratic system has been assisted by Indian constitutional experts and electoral commission staff at the request of the former. This assistance extended to the conduct of a series of mock elections in the country to help prepare the electorate for democracy.…”

Section: Winds Of Change?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Democracy Promotion in India's Foreign Policy: Emerging Trends and Developments

Mazumdar¹,

Statz²

2015

Asian Affairs: An American Review

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Democracy promotion has never been an integral element of India's foreign policy. The pursuit of its national interests in the international arena has traditionally revolved around security, trade, and energy issues. This article demonstrates, however, that in recent times India has taken a more active stance in promoting and supporting democracy abroad. It identifies the specific ways in which India has engaged in democracy promotion and support abroad. Nevertheless, 'realist' concerns about strategic and economic interests, namely India's desire to improve its relationship with the United States and enhancing its status as an emerging power, rather than any idealistic commitment to democracy, may help explain this behavior. The pursuit of traditional foreign policy objectives will continue to take precedence over democracy promotion and support abroad. As such, there are elements of both continuity and change observed regarding the issue of democracy promotion in India's foreign policy.India is one of the few countries in the developing world that has been relatively successful in constructing and sustaining a democratic political system. Significant

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Democratization by decree: the case of Bhutan

Cited by 56 publications

References 9 publications

Why monarchy persists in small states: the cases of Tonga, Bhutan and Liechtenstein

Why monarchy persists in small states: the cases of Tonga, Bhutan and Liechtenstein

Second Elections and Democratic Consolidation: the Experience of Bhutan

Democracy Promotion in India's Foreign Policy: Emerging Trends and Developments

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