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Power to the People Enlightenment As Religion 3 William Rasch THEBULLETINcsd CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF DEMOCRACY | SUMMER 2008 | VOL 15 NO CONTENTS Power to the People Enlightenment as Religion 3 William Rasch Red Herrings & Fishy Tails 7 Liza Griffin The ‘dönme conspiracy’ 14 Eyup Sabri Carmikli Nitasha Kaul describes the remarkable arrival of democracy in Bhutan The Meaning of War 16 Philip Hammond n 2008 Bhutan completed a peaceful Democratic Party) won 2 seats, forming Masculine Men 19 transition to a parliamentary the smallest opposition of the world’s Derek Hird Idemocracy. Initiated by the monarch, youngest democracy. The portfolios for the process was unique: a voluntary the 11-member cabinet were announced abdication of power in the face of public in April; the first sitting of the NA was opposition to democracy. (Indeed, had a held in May 2008. C S D N E W S referendum on the desirability of a Earlier, in December 2007 and January transition to democracy been held at the 2008, twenty of the 25 members of the CSD Staff 9 time of the elections it would have failed). upper house, the National Council, were Department of Politics and On 24 March, 79.4 per cent of a elected (NC members are International Relations 9 total of 318,465 registered apolitical and not affiliated voters, in 47 constituencies to any party); the Masters Courses 10–11 in 20 provinces, cast their remaining five, the PhD Programme 11 ballot in a general king’s nominees, were Staff News 11/CSD Events election. Some had announced in March 11/What is CSD?12 taken out bank loans 2008. (The NC to finance trips of candidate with the The CSD Bulletin is published hundreds of kilo- largest margin of in Winter and Summer. metres to be able to victory was a ISSN: 1461-4510 vote in their native woman, Pema EDITOR: Patrick Burke provinces. The election Lhamo.) EDITORIAL BOARD : – in which, in line with The democratic Patrik Burke, Adli Hawwari, the Bhutanese constitution, elections marked not a Simon Joss, Charlotte Regan only two parties stood – rupture with, but an produced the first democratically evolution of, governance mecha- CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF chosen 47-seat National Assembly (NA), nisms that had, in preceding decades, DEMOCRACY or lower house. The people voted introduced decentralized and participatory University of Westminster overwhelmingly for the Druk Phuensum decision-making. The National Assembly 32-38 Wells Street, Tshogpa (DPT) – (Druk means dragon; the was set up in 1953; the Royal Advisory London W1T 3UW native name for Bhutan is Druk Yul, or Council in 1965. Bhutan introduced its United Kingdom ‘land of the thunder dragon’) – which won first five-year plan in 1961; in 1971 it TEL: (+44) 020 7911 5138 45 out of the 47 NA seats. The DPT’s joined the UN. The fourth king, Jigme FAX: (+44 ) 020 7911 5164 leader, Jigme Y. Thinley, whose Singye Wangchuck, who inherited the E-MAIL: [email protected] leadership and charismatic personality kingdom as a teenager in 1972, continued www.wmin.ac.uk/csd undoubtedly helped the DPT win, is the the reforms begun by his father. Bhutan DIRECTOR: Dr Simon Joss new prime minister. The PDP (People’s introduced its own currency, the ngultrum, in 1974. In 1981, Bhutan does not fit this DYTs (District model. Bhutan’s transition to Development Committees) democracy was not the product and in 1991 GYTs (Block of a popular movement for Development Committees, democracy; there was no which work at the level of demand for ‘democracy as a the gewog or smallest right’. Instead, Jigme Singye administrative unit) were Wangchuck, the fourth king, established, which created handed over his powers to the stronger local government. people, and made sure that the Since the 1960s, Bhutan constitution contained a has gradually engaged with provision for any king to retire at a growing number of the age of 65 (he is 52 himself). international bodies. The The Bhutanese were prevailed big change came in 1998, upon to accept ‘democracy as a when the king dissolved the responsibility’ – a ‘gift’ from the government and transferred his machines used were real. Yellow is the throne that the people must nurture. executive powers to a new executive colour of royalty: almost everyone Voting was presented to the people as council of ministers. In 1999, TV and voted for the Druk Yellow party; it is their ‘sacred right’, a norbu (precious the internet were allowed into Bhutan. likely that they would have felt jewel) to be handled with care. The Then, in 2001, the king initiated the uncomfortable voting for anything fifth king issued a kasho (royal edict) drafting of a constitution. This else. before the elections that exhorted document underwent extensive public Organizations such as the Anti people to exercise their franchise, and consultation in the following years; its Corruption Commission and the do so responsibly. There was adoption is currently being debated in Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) emphasis on the creation of a ‘vibrant the National Assembly. ran innumerable voter education democracy’ as the foundation of a In 2005, Jigme Singye Wangchuck programmes and awareness campaigns strong economy. stunned the nation with the – on TV and the radio and in the print Why did the Bhutanese want the announcement that there would be a media – about the dangers of political monarchy to continue? In part, transition to a parliamentary corruption, coercion, and bribery (for because they worry about the democracy with a constitutional example, community votes being divisiveness that democracy can monarch. solicited in return for power tillers, or produce: in unstable democracies (in In 2006 he abdicated in favour of his voters being misled into thinking that the region and beyond), violence, son, the fifth and present king, Jigme voting machines record voters’ strikes, corruption, and all kinds of Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. In April identities as they vote). politicking appear to make life and May 2007 mock elections were At the core of democracy, as miserable. (Bhutanese are informed held in order to acquaint people with generally understood, is participatory about the world: there are 30 the practice of elections: voters were decision-making coupled with international channels on Bhutanese asked to choose from amongst four symbolic representation in the TV, including BBC and CNN, and fictional parties – Druk Yellow, Druk institutions that exercise power; for only one national channel, the Red, Druk Green, and Druk Blue; this reason, in the political school students were the mock imagination democracy is seen as candidates but the electronic voting synonymous with people power. Continued on page 20 BHUTAN Bhutan is a small (about 40,000 square kilometers in size), seventeenth century, the dynamic leader Zhabdrung landlocked country in the eastern Himalayas; it is Nagawang Namgyal, who had come from Tibet, unified bordered on the north by Tibet in China, on the south by the country and instituted a dual system of secular and India. The over half a million Bhutanese (divided into religious administration (choesi nyiden). The effects of three main ethnic groups: the Ngalops in the west, the European imperialism, which shook large parts of Asia in Sharchops in the east, and the Lhotsampas in the south) subsequent centuries, were tangential in Bhutan until the have a distinct sense of identity and culture, which is start of the twentieth century, when, in 1907, partly with reinforced by both geography and history. Buddhism British support and with general consent, the Bhutanese spread to Bhutan following the visit of Guru monarchy was established. This was the founding of the Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) in the eight century of Wangchuck dynasty. The present King Jigme Khesar the Christian Era /AD. About 900 years later, in the Namgyel Wangchuck is the fifth Druk Gyalpo. 2 | CSD BULLETIN | S U M M E R 2 0 08 | VOL 15 NO 2 auditions for the ‘Bhutanese Idol’ TV agricultural produce can be brought Continued from page 2 show that began in April 2008, to markets); the maintenance of contestants competed in the three water channels, lhakhangs (temples) Bhutan Broadcasting Service, which Bhutanese music genres: zhungdra and mule tracks; increased rural is on for a few hours each day.) (classical); boedra (folk); and rigsar electrification; and crop insurance. In undemocratic Bhutan, by (modern). In urban areas, the challenge is contrast, life was better than it is in greater. In the absence of extended many democracies. (In the more than rural farming family setup, people one hundred years of the Wangchuck have to be persuaded to care about dynasty’s rule [1907—2008], a new, their democracy as a responsibility; hereditary, monarch took the throne and there are specific long-standing only four times: in 1926, 1952, 1972, problems on which government has and 2006). The state has provided to make progress (in addition to the substantial support for the population: universal problems such as education and healthcare are free, and unemployment and rural—urban until recently, educated people could migration, which will be addressed in get comfortable, permanent jobs of the tenth five year plan, beginning in their choice in the civil service. While 2008). These problems include dust there is poverty in rural areas, there is pollution from increasing no starvation (partly because of the construction; getting people to strength of communities). Every volunteer to help put out forest fires; Bhutanese had a right of final appeal to stray dogs; and solid waste disposal (a the king, and it was common for the landfill site near Thimphu, the landless to be granted land under the capital, built in 1993 with a capacity kidu (welfare) system. of 8 metric tons per day for 10 years is Guided by the development still being used today – with waste philosophy of Gross National Public culture is – for the present, levels at 35 tons per day).
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