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The Progressive Monarchy of Bhutan: A Not-So-Absolute Monarchy to a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2023

Nima Dorji
Nima Dorji*
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, Bhutan
*
E-mail: nima.dorji@jswlaw.bt
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Abstract

This article provides a descriptive account of the evolution of the Bhutanese monarchy, and normative claims about its endurance and its nature, suggesting that the monarchy is both the expression of as well as the guardian of the country’s constitutional identity. Bhutan became a democratic constitutional monarchy by adopting the written Constitution in 2008 after a successful 100 years of hereditary monarchy. The willingness of successive monarchs to evolve based on changing times, their ability to ensure stability and continuity, and work for the benefits of the people and country guided by the principles of Buddhist kingship seem to have contributed not only in them benefitting from unqualified support of the people, but also in attaining the status of an expression of Bhutanese constitutional identity.

Keywords

constitutional monarchyGNHKiduconstitutional identitydual systemDharmaraja
Type
Monarchy and Society in Asia
Information
Asian Journal of Law and Society , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , October 2022 , pp. 440 - 459
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Asian Journal of Law and Society

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