ISAS Briefs

The year 2008 may go down in the history of South Asia as the year of democratic institutionalisation and electoral processes. After Pakistan’s elections on 18 February, Bhutan followed on 24 March and Nepal is all set to hold its first ever Constituent Assembly polls on 10 April. All these elections are a manifestation of the strong upsurge for democracy against the erstwhile autocratic governance in these countries. The case of Bhutan has, however, been different as the Bhutanese elections were cast in a unique political context. Unlike the situation in Nepal and Pakistan, the elections were not precipitated by any grassroots upsurge for political change and representative governance. The Bhutanese people were happy to be governed by their traditional monarchy whose criteria for development was defined by the unique concept of “Gross National Happiness”, to contrast it with “Gross National Product”, felt and enjoyed, not only materially but also “spiritually”, by its people. Bhutan’s call for democracy was a top-down gift to his people by the King, Jigme Singhye Wangchuk, much against the unwillingness and initial resistance by his ministers and associates as well as his subjects. Compare this with the Nepal King in Bhutan’s close proximity, who was hell bent on going to any length in retaining his hold over power. He even resorted to direct rule under the pretext of dealing with the 10-year old Maoist insurgency. Also contrast the Bhutan King’s initiative with the military regimes in Pakistan and Myanmar. While the former succumbed to the idea of democratic elections under severe domestic and international pressures, the latter has defied the international community, by and large, and suppressed the protests led by the monks on the question of accommodating democratic aspirations of the people.