Since its top-down transition from an absolute to a democratic constitutional monarchy in 2008, Bhutan has been on a path of steady but cautious improvements across most indicators of democratic performance. This is in line with the explicit governmental emphasis on social well-being over rapid growth: in lieu of traditional economic or social indicators for development, the government of Bhutan aims for the fulfilment of GNH, a holistic concept that combines the pursuits of cultural and ecological sustainability, equitable economic development, and good governance.

Ruled as a hereditary monarchy since 1907, Bhutan began its democratic transition in 1998 and formally became a parliamentary democracy in 2008, when it held its first parliamentary elections and adopted a constitution. The process was initiated and overseen by King Jigme Singye Wangchuk until his abdication in 2006. The pivotal personal role of the king in the democratization process is widely-agreed upon by experts, with the driving motivation the desire to develop a modernist framework to ensure the survival of the region’s sole remaining Buddhist polity. Bhutan’s democratic institutions thus embed conservative Bhutanese tradition within an outwardly secular, liberal state, and its democracy has been able to largely meet the constitutional mandates and aspirations of a progressive, equitable and inclusive country. 

Achieving this balance involved the suppression and synthesisation of competing cultural traditions, beginning with the royal government’s attempts to create a unified and universal Buddhist national identity in the 1970s. In the late 1980s, tensions over this “Bhutanization” process led over 100,000 Nepali-speaking Lhotsampas to flee or leave the country for economic or educational opportunities. The remaining Lhotsampa population numbers roughly 250,000, or a third of the country’s population, and enjoys nearly proportional representation in national and subnational government. Since democratization, the country has held four competitive multiparty elections (and four peaceful transitions of power) contested primarily on socioeconomic issues with parties competing over the best technical program for sustainable economic growth and development. Bhutan is landlocked between India and China; maintaining strong economic and security ties with India, and a cautious relationship with China due to unresolved border disputes.

Bhutan continues to grapple with increasing levels of gender-based violence. Despite having a robust legal framework to address violence against women, challenges persist such as inadequate human resources, limited funding, and gender stereotypes. Another issue is youth unemployment, which reached its peak during the pandemic.

Moving forward, Bhutan will have to sustain its evolving democracy without being drawn into the Indian-Chinese conflict and protecting its territorial integrity. Diversifying its economy and addressing youth unemployment will be crucial to generating sustained economic growth. Lastly, the government’s steps in enforcing effective implementation of legal frameworks are essential in addressing rising levels of gender-based violence and overall gender equality in the country.

Last Updated: June 2024