Paper outline

Topic : Paradox of Culture and Democratization : Environmental Implications of Traditionalism and Multiculturalism in Bhutan.
• Thesis Proposal (unrefined) : Traditionalism and preservation of a singularly debated culture as officially adopted, while imposing bans on others can have detrimental impacts to environmental sustainability in Bhutan and contradicts their struggle for democratization and maintenance of Independence as a nation.
• Relevance :
o Cultural Ideology is highly preserved in Bhutan
 Simultaneously, nation developmental goals & consensus strive for democratization.
 Democracy involves voting entitlements & freedoms of expression that are contradicting to nation’s highly preserved specific culture… Hence, the paradox of culture and democratization in Bhutan.
o Traditionalism is a preservation of a cultural norm (somewhat similar to nationalism but in terms of culture) which has implications on a tenet of democracy, toleration of different views/perspectives such as multiculturalism.
 Impinges on individual rights of democratic ideology
 Promotes differential treatment
 Detrimental to social & psychological well-being of minorities
 Overall, anxieties of statelessness and lack of identity are consequences of subtle exclusion/alienation of ethnic minorities by certain policies, such as Nationality/Citizenship/Religious Acts of Bhutan
Introduction
• Are environmental sustainability & cultural preservation at odds with individual happiness?
o GDP vs Gross National Happiness (GNH)
 two measurements that disregard individual development/happiness in favor of national development/happiness, though GNH measurements are a step in the right direction; GNH can be deceiving towards international audiences and inaccurately depicts the conditions lacking democratic exercises of citizens that personal freedoms and agency
• Environmental Implications :
o Socioeconomic disparities
o Asian Discrimination (in this case Nepalese-speaking population of Bhutan)
o Mental Health detriment
Body/Background of Bhutan Independence ( A History of social/culture isolation in Bhutan)
• implications :
o independent foreign policy that was shaped by China’s desire for control of the Himalaya region
o Invaluable relationships formed with India
o Economic trade & Security enhanced relationship with India
o limits/barriers to ecotourism
o lack of exposure to outside world
o Overall, consolidation of itself as an independent nation requiring Identity distinction, “One nation, one people”
• Ethnic cleansing of Lhotshampas “southern Bhutanese” who chose not to abide to “one nation, one people” tradition of the nationally adopted Drukpa Identity & Ngalong cultural ideology.
o Forcible expulsion of Lhotshampas; Cleared 1/6 of pop., making them non-national; Ethnic Cleansing
 Some signed “voluntary migration” forms under duress, stating willingness to surrender property to the gov.
 Stripped them of their citizenship
 Forced them to leave the country
o implications of exclusion:
 Constitutional suppression of cultural & religious beliefs of the non-Ngalong pop.
 Under the Religion Act of Bhutan, Christians cannot register organizations or erect churches
 Lhotshampa language is banned
 their culture, tradition, and customs are proscribed under the “one people, one nation” policy.
 Socioeconomic consequences
 anti-multiculturalism sentiments
o A stain left on Bhutanese refugees in other countries of the international communities they choose to live in
 Mental Health Crisis at risk for these individuals
 Thousands of children are born stateless (Feelings of Statelessness)
 Separated families from eviction in the ‘90s are not allowed to visit relatives in Bhutan
 1990s Bhutan history is widely unknown in the Western Societies
o Bhutan relentlessly preaches mantras of happiness, and we agree without confirming.
 Deafening silence at the expense of humanity for the sake of golden coating
• What do the Bhutanese think of this? Is Bhutan genuinely happy? Or is it just to hoodwink or divert the international attention from the ethnic cleansing, HR violations, and the continued suppression of the minority pop. in Bhutan?
o Gross National Happiness factor
 What is GNH? How do rating among the Bhutanese change every 5 years that it is administered?
 Misconceptions and perceptions
 Transparent or not?
 Individual Mental Health of taken for granted
 “allures Westerners irked by perpetual greed of capitalism, and they believe whatever is emanating from deep Himalaya”
o Demographic differences in perspectives of traditionalism, multiculturalism, and democracy
 old vs young
 men vs women
 rich vs poor
o Implications:
 Silencing / Alienation of ethnic minorities of Nepalese speaking population
Conclusion
• Summary
• Thoughts
o I think enjoyment of life for Individual Bhutanese is dispensed for the sake of national economic and sustainability motives of development that lack fully integrated democratization processes, such as the gov. making choices on behalf of the well-being of citizens (or what the gov. thinks is best)
 Actually discourages / disincentivizes cultural expression outside the national norm.
o Probable Resolution for Consideration
 U.S needs to help reunite Bhutanese American families, conduct congressional hearing on Bhutan, and formulate policies in line with commitment to human rights and democracy