Democratic Transition in Bhutan: Political Contests as Moral Battles

ISBN-13: 9780367348342 / Angielski / Twarda / 2019 / 292 str.

Sonam Kinga

Opis

This book studies how a modern monarchy transformed Bhutan into a parliamentary democracy. It will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of politics, especially comparative politics and political institutions, South Asian and Himalayan Studies, and political sociology.

Spis treści

Introduction: Revisiting Theories of Kingship and Democratic Transition   1. The Constitution: Royal Gift or Public Responsibility? Setting the Discourse for Democracy  2. Election Commission and Electoral Laws: Oscillating between "Rational" and "Magical" Modes  3. Mock Elections: The Practice of an Idea  4. National Council Elections: A National Idiom for Conducting Local Arguments  5. Assembly Elections as Moral Battle: Moralizing of Politics  6. Electoral Costs and Losses: Miscalculation, Misinformation and Misunderstanding  7. Powerless Government? Contesting Royal Prerogatives and Projects  8. Convention of 19 July 2013: Manifesting Affective Polarisation  9. The Monarch above Politics: Kingship and Democratic Consolidation  10. Conclusion: Disjunction, Continuity and Transformation

O autorze

Sonam Kinga teaches at the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies, Bhutan. He was earlier a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies, Tokyo, and later a Visiting Professor at Kyoto University, Japan. He was also a founding member and researcher at The Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies, Thimphu, Bhutan, and founding editor of the Bhutan Observer. He represented the district of Tashigang for the first two consecutive terms (2008–2013) in the National Council, Parliament of Bhutan. During his second tenure, he served as the Council’s Chairperson. He was awarded the National Order of Merit (Gold) in 2014 and conferred the prestigious honour of Red Scarf and the title ‘Dasho’ in 2012 by His Majesty the King.