Region 
 

Thimphu

Road to Democracy

Since the first General Elections held in 2008, Bhutan has seen three different political parties come to power.

By Gulnaz Nawaz | April 2023


Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom that sits between India and China. It is known for its unique concept of “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) as a way to measure national prosperity and for its unique approach to governance and development, which puts the happiness and well-being of its people ahead of economic growth. It is one of the youngest democracies in the world, as it only became a parliamentary democracy in 2008 after being a monarchy. Since the Wangchuck dynasty had ruled Bhutan for more than a century, this was a significant and historic moment in the nation’s history. The first democratic elections in Bhutan were held in 2008, following the enactment of a new constitution in 2007.

Institutionally, Bhutan’s democracy has fared relatively well since its transition in 2006. The country has established a strong and functional government, with the Parliament and the judiciary playing key roles in the country’s governance.

Up until the beginning of the 20th century, Bhutan was under the rule of a succession of hereditary kings and queens. Bhutan began to modernize and open up to the outside world at the beginning of the 20th century, but it was still a monarchy until 2008. The fourth king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, indicated in 2006 that Bhutan would change to a constitutional monarchy with an elected government. In 2008, when the constitution was ratified, the nation had its first free elections. All residents above the age of 18 in Bhutan have the right to vote in national elections every five years. There is a system of free and fair elections in which political parties may run and the party that receives the most votes and seats in the National Assembly is the one that governs. Even though Bhutan has only been a democratic country for a short time, it has been praised for its peaceful and easy transition to democracy and for the way it makes decisions by putting a lot of emphasis on community involvement and dialogue.

Another important institutional development in Bhutan’s democracy has been the establishment of an independent Election Commission. The Commission is in charge of setting up and keeping an eye on elections in the country, and it has done a good job of making sure they are free and fair. Bhutan has held three successful general elections since 2008, and each time the transfer of power has been peaceful and without incident.

Civil society organizations and the media have also emerged as important actors in Bhutan’s democracy. Civil society groups like the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy have been very important in spreading democratic values and giving citizens a voice. The media in Bhutan is free and independent, and it has been successful in holding the government accountable.

Bhutan’s political system has several strengths that have helped the country move toward building a strong democracy. One of the key strengths of Bhutan’s democracy is the peaceful transfer of power between political parties. Since the first democratic elections in 2008, Bhutan has seen three different political parties come to power. This shows a commitment to democratic values and a willingness to listen to what the people want.

Another strength of Bhutan’s democracy is the role played by the Parliament in shaping the country’s policies and legislation. The Parliament is made up of two chambers: the National Council and the National Assembly. Both chambers have been involved in running the country and have passed some important laws, such as the Land Act, which strengthened the rights of landowners, and the Civil Society Organizations Act, which gave non-governmental organizations legal status.


Bhutan has also made progress in promoting human rights and freedoms. The country has abolished the death penalty, decriminalized homosexuality, and taken steps to promote gender equality. The media is relatively free, and citizens enjoy a high degree of personal freedom. Bhutan’s unique way of measuring national prosperity through GNH shows in the way the country works to protect human rights and freedoms.

While Bhutan’s democracy has several strengths, some weaknesses need to be addressed to build a more robust democratic system. One of the key weaknesses of Bhutan’s democracy is its low voter turnout. Voter turnout in past elections has been relatively low, and there is a need to promote greater civic engagement among citizens. This can be done with more education and awareness campaigns and more work to make the voting process easier for citizens to understand.

Another weakness is the underrepresentation of women in politics and other areas of public life. Even though progress has been made toward equal rights for men and women, women are still underrepresented in politics and need more help making decisions.

Corruption is also a challenge facing Bhutan’s democracy. Even though corruption isn’t as bad in this country as it is in other countries in the region, there have been a few cases in the past few years. There is a need to strengthen anti-corruption measures and increase transparency in government operations.

Bhutan’s democratic institutions are pretty strong, but there are still some places where they could be improved. One of the biggest problems facing Bhutan’s courts is that they don’t have enough money or people to handle the growing number of cases. This can make it take a long time to solve cases and cause a backlog of cases, which hurts the public’s trust in the justice system. To solve this problem, more money needs to be put into the judicial system. This means hiring more judges and giving them enough resources to make sure that legal cases are settled quickly and fairly.

Another institutional challenge facing Bhutan’s democracy is the need to strengthen the role of civil society in the country’s governance. There are several non-government organizations in Bhutan, but they have few resources and often have trouble getting their voices heard when policy is being made.

There are broader challenges facing Bhutan’s democratic transition. One of the key challenges is the country’s economic dependence on India. Bhutan relies heavily on India for trade, aid, and other forms of support, which limits the country’s ability to pursue policies that may be at odds with Indian interests. This can also lead to concerns about external interference in Bhutan’s democratic processes.

Bhutan’s transition to democracy also has to deal with the need to find a balance between economic growth and protecting the environment. Bhutan’s commitment to GNH emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and protecting the environment, but the country is also under pressure to promote economic growth and development. Balancing these competing priorities will be a key challenge for Bhutan’s democratic government in the years ahead.

Promoting civic education should be a key part of making sure that democracy in Bhutan lasts. Civic education can be taught in schools and colleges to help people understand how democracy works, what their rights and responsibilities are, and how important it is to take part in the democratic process. Civic education can also help stop corruption and make public life more open, accountable, and moral.

Another way to save and sustain democracy in Bhutan is to promote greater participation of women and youth in politics. Women’s participation in politics is still low in Bhutan, and there is a need to promote greater representation of women in elected bodies. In the same way, young people are an important group for the long-term success of democracy, and their participation is crucial for the system to work. The government can start programmes that encourage young people to get involved in politics and give them the skills and tools they need to do so effectively. By promoting greater participation of women and youth, Bhutan can ensure that its democracy remains inclusive and representative of all its citizens.

Read More