Paper short abstract:

This paper draws on a new understanding of the dynamic process of intra-migration that has been, until now ,overlooked in the Bhutanese context. It sets out an overview of a range of different intra-migrations that reconfigured the human and linguistic landscape of Bhutan.

Paper long abstract:

When speaking of migrations in to Bhutan, the term evokes either the ancient migrations of the early historical period (8th-9th century) from Tibet or the recent 20th century migration from Darjeeling and Sikkim by different peoples regrouped under the blanket term of "Nepali". However, Bhutan has a rich linguistic mosaic that reflects a longer, more cultural complex of process of movement and settlement.

In this paper, I turn to address the different intra-Bhutan migrations that have occurred since the 11th century until the present. These intra-migrations within Bhutan and from among the various linguistic groups were, and indeed are, of a different nature from either the early migration from Tibet or the more recent migration from Darjeeling and Sikkim. These intra-migrations reflect a range of reasons and complex histories: transhumance, taxes, search for new lands for cultivation, as well as, religious.

In my paper, I will provide an overview of these migrations which have reconfigured the human and linguistic landscape of Bhutan across the centuries. This paper draws on a new understanding of the dynamic process of intra-migration that has been, until now ,overlooked in the Bhutanese context. It aims to provide a more accurate and dynamic image of Bhutan that challenges the static one generally reported by the casual observer.

Paper short abstract:

This presentation examines who has been represented as “slaughterer” and how they have been treated in re-Buddhistizing societies where the religious authorities have tried to reinforce doctrines such as the release of living things kept in captivity, under the democratization and secularization processes of contemporary Bhutan

Paper long abstract:

While political democratization was implemented in Bhutan since 2007, the disfranchisement of “religious personalities” occurred at the same time. The policy which meant the elimination of Buddhist monks from public political sphere seemed actually influencing the religious personalities to stimulate their passion for missionary work or re-Buddhistization of the society.

In this presentation, I would like to examine how this tendency affect and transform people’s everyday-lives including cultural, religious, and economical practices in rural societies in Bhutan. Especially the transition of practices of slaughtering animals will be focused this time. In the Buddhistizing societies of contemporary Bhutan, where the religious authorities try to reinforce Buddhist doctrines while to eliminate “barbarous” animal slaughter from the society, examining who has been represented as “slaughterer” and how they have been treated would lead us to look into social and cultural transitions through negotiations between multiple actors in the field. The study consists of interviews with pastoralists and farmers as well as archival research on newspapers and government publications.

Paper short abstract:

The centrality of elections for democracy and its consolidation in Bhutan will be discussed, stressing that they are the major driving force behind the country's successful democratization, while at the same time thinking about possible future challenges.

Paper long abstract:

While theories and definitions of democracy are diverse and differ considerably, elections are a constitutive part of all of them. However, when it comes to the significance and importance of elections for democratization and democratic consolidation. In minimalist conceptions of democracy it does not take much more than regularly holding free and fair elections, while for broader and more substantial approaches to democracy elections are all but one part of a complex set of institutions and rules and only one small step towards democracy.

Looking at elections in the Kingdom of Bhutan, this paper seeks to address what Terry Lynn Karl called "the fallacy of electoralism", by arguing in favor of the paramount centrality of elections for the success or failure of democratization and democratic consolidation. Especially within the region of South Asia it appears that it is elections, which are the center of contention and political conflict that leads to instability. And yet despite much doubt, in the case of Bhutan elections have been a main driving force of democratization and democratic consolidation, apparently stabilizing a new institutional framework for which there was no real demand in the first place.

This paper will assess elections in Bhutan and try to draw conclusions with regard to the questions of a) in what way elections contributed more than other factors to Bhutan's successful transition to democracy and continuing consolidation and b) what challenges elections might pose in the future for the further democratization of the country.

Paper short abstract:

This paper critically examines the tourism expansionist McKinsey Report (2010), which aimed for 100,000 tourists by 2012. The findings revealed discords that compromised the GNH principles. The environmental and socio-cultural integrity was impacted despite economic advancement.

Paper long abstract:

Bhutan's pristine natural environment, its Mahayana Buddhist culture, and the notion of Gross National Happiness (GNH) has attracted increasing numbers of international tourists to this small Himalayan Kingdom, better known as the 'last Shangri-la', despite its comparatively high tourist tariff system. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the impacts of the McKinsey Report (2010), a tourism expansionist policy based on the notion of 'high value, low impact', which was targeted to increase international tourist numbers to 100,000 by 2012. This target has significantly impacted on Bhutan's limited resources and contravenes the GNH Tourism Model founded on the four GNH pillars: the preservation and conservation of the environment; cultivation and promotion of culture; good governance, and equitable and sustainable socio-economic development. Foucault's (1978) theoretical framework of 'governmentality', is used to explain the socio-cultural realities of the GNH tourism model. A qualitative methodology of document analysis, participant observation, and semi-structured in-depth interviews of tourism stakeholders has been used. The interview data was analysed using the NVivo10 software program. The findings revealed discord amongst tourism stakeholders over the implementation of the McKinsey Report recommendations. Whilst there was an increase in national economic benefits, the environmental and socio-cultural integrity of Bhutan was adversely impacted, thereby compromising the GNH principles. This has resulted in a paradox in the GNH tourism model: 'low value, high impact, high volume'.

Paper short abstract:

Is the process of democratisation paving way for the emergence of a new Bhutan? Is there a transition from past or does Bhutan still remain a constitutional monarchy? The paper attempts to address some of these questions.

Paper long abstract:

As the democratisation process unfolds itself in Bhutan, there is scepticism in some quarters regarding both the substance and process of democracy. Is Bhutan in transition or is she still governed by a path- dependent behaviour envisioned by the monarchs of the past? This question becomes significant, particularly after the recent round of elections. Nevertheless, with almost 50 percent of its young population participating in the democratisation process, could there be a perceived shift in Bhutan's external and domestic policy behaviour in the coming years. The proposed paper will attempt to answer some of these questions.

There are three ways to understand the strategic behaviour of a state. The first yardstick is to assess the 'structure' within which a state is situated; the second is to assess the role played by domestic constituencies and the third is to understand the influence of leadership. The element of leadership is particularly important as both external and domestic factors are filtered through the perception of the leader. Given these broad parameters, the proposed paper will seek to understand Bhutan's policy response to some key areas relating to security and economics, and whether a combination of actors and issues are making way for a 'new' Bhutan.

Paper short abstract:

National Assembly of Bhutan, estab. in 1953, has further evolved from 2008 as part of the new democratic Parliament of the Kingdom. Roles, rules and procedures are reviewed, along with interactions with the monarch and related bodies. Potential conflict and consensus areas are identified.

Paper long abstract:

The present Parliament of the kingdom of Bhutan, established by the 2008 Constitution, rests on the principal legislative National Assembly, with a National Council as a House of equal stature, all headed by the Monarch as Head of State. This paper reviews the origin, development and procedural changes of the original National Assembly from 1953, and charts its role in the overall development from consultative body to substantive legislative institution. The paper also considers problems of adjusting an increasingly sophisticated machinery of State to the requirements of the electorate and external pressures from international community. Competition over political boundaries between the NA and NC, and to some extent also with the traditional and constitutional authority of the Monarch, is reviewed. A tentative judgment is that quite fair progress has been made in the development of the legislative institution, but that policies adopted during the term of the present government (ie to mid-2018) may have far-reaching effects on enhancing the level of public acceptance of, and further clarifying the focus of, "democracy with Bhutan characteristics".

Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on the potential role of the Supreme Court and its judges in relation to environmental protection in Bhutan. The paper will present a review of existing environmental laws and outline the potential role of the Supreme Court in relation to Article 5 of the Constitution.

Paper long abstract:

This paper focuses on the role of the Supreme Court and its judges in relation to environmental protection in Bhutan. Bhutan is remarkable for its bio-diversity but its environment is fragile. This paper argues that the Supreme Court of Bhutan will have a major role in ensuring that the ordinary citizen can challenge potential decisions on the grounds of environmental protection.

Under Art 5 of the 2008 Constitution all Bhutanese are under duty to conserve the wider environment. This paper argues that based on the three key principles of the Aarhus Convention (access to information, public participation and access to justice) that the Supreme Court will have a major role in developing the rights of ordinary Bhutanese to challenge decisions. It suggests that following on from the Thimphu Declaration on the Environment in August 2013, that lessons on public interest litigation and recognition of locus standi can be usefully learnt from the example of the Supreme Court of India.