The Making of Foreign Policy in Bhutan

Chairperson: Ambassador I P Khosla
Discussants: Ambassador Dalip Mehta and Professor Mathew Joseph C

Dr. Medha Bisht’s paper focused on Bhutan’s Policy shift over a period of time. In the process of explaining this broad aspect, she tried to answer questions such as: who are the actors in Bhutan driving foreign policy choices? What are the factors that determine Bhutan’s foreign policy choices?

The speaker presented the paper in three broad sections. The first section assessed the basic determinants responsible for influencing or making foreign policy decisions in Bhutan. In this section, she amplified the role of domestic factors in the making of Bhutan’s foreign policy. She argues that while, geo-strategic location, national security and economic engagement have shaped Bhutan’s foreign policy preferences, the political institutions in Bhutan, particularly, Monarchy, National Assembly, Royal Advisory Council and Monastic Order are also important attributes shaping its foreign policy decision making. According to the speaker, among the four political institutions mentioned above, Monarchy and National Assembly emerged as important institutions in shaping foreign policy decisions.

In the second section, the speaker isolated security, culture and economy as the factors which have predominantly shaped foreign policy preferences of Bhutan. According to her, while security had played an important role in shaping Bhutan’s relations with China, cultural factors had played a significant role in determining Bhutan’s position on negotiating the issue of refugees with Nepal. Economic benefits, on the other hand, have played an important role in defining Bhutan’s interaction with India. The speaker however argued that these categories were not distinct in relation to the three countries mentioned above. The thrust of the analysis she argued was to highlight the significance of these three factors as the primary determinants in Bhutan’s foreign policy.

The third section identified the possibilities of continuity and change in Bhutan’s foreign policy post 2008. Despite Bhutan’s shift to constitutional monarchy, the King still holds an important place in deciding Bhutan’s external engagements. While mapping out the pattern of change and continuity in Bhutan’s foreign policy engagement in terms of the determinants, speaker argued that economic engagements would govern Bhutan’s future foreign policy choices and interactions with China in near future could increase. Regarding the role of political institutions in Bhutan, National Assembly, National Council, Gross National Happiness Commission, Druk and holding Investments, Royal Service Commission and Anti Corruption Commission would be potential future players.

External Discussants:

The external discussants complimented the presenter for a comprehensive and well researched paper. The first external discussant suggested that the paper would benefit if a background mentioning Bhutan’s opening up to the world through Young Husbands expedition was included. The same discussant also felt that the paper should include a discussion on Bhutan –Britain relationship, future of Indo-Bhutan relations in the context of China-Bhutan relations, Bhutan shifting from closed medieval society to a modern society, opening up of Bhutan to the globalised world, Bhutan’s relations with P5 and some of the important events such as: Nehru’s visit in 1958. According to the discussant, the paper gave too much importance on National Assembly, but during 3rd and 4th King National Assembly was basically a rubber stamp. The same view was also echoed by the second external discussant. According to the second external discussant, political culture required elaboration. He also suggested the speaker to re-look at her argument that economy determines Indo-Bhutan engagement.

Internal Discussants:

The first internal discussant pointed out that the three determinants isolated by the speaker, i.e. security, culture and economy could not be compartmentalized in real sense. Political culture, mentioned by the speaker was more about citizenship issue than of foreign policy. According to the first internal discussant Bhutan’s Trade relations with Assam needed to be substantiated. The discussant also suggested the presenter to address Bhutan’s reaction to the Chinese presence and recommendation for India. The second internal discussant suggested the speaker to elaborate Bhutan Nepal relations.

General discussion focused on the following issues:

• India’s Development Assistance to Bhutan
• Manifesto of the ruling and opposition parties on Bhutan’s policy towards China and India
• Presence of religious puzzle in Bhutan
• Indian Army’s OP Task in Bhutan
• Attitude of local people of Bhutan towards India
• Bhutanese Diaspora
• Climate Change,
• Binding factor that keeps Bhutan together

Chair’s Comments

According to the chair, the speaker had made an excellent effort to put the narratives into analytical framework. However, he felt that the title and contents of the paper did not match. He suggested the speaker to incorporate the comments by the discussants and substantiate them with the application of the Small State theory.

Report prepared by Gulbin Sultana, Research Assistant, IDSA.