Politics of Gross National Happiness (eBook)

Governance and Development in Bhutan

Kent Schroeder (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2017 | 1st ed. 2018
IX, 159 Seiten
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-65388-4 (ISBN)

Infos

This book explores the practices of governance in Bhutan and how they shape the implementation of the country's Gross National Happiness (GNH) development strategy. The author examines whether Bhutan's innovative GNH governance framework successfully navigates competing power dynamics and generates the intended human development outcomes of Gross National Happiness. The analysis is structured around a comparison of the implementation of four GNH development policies - tourism, media, farm roads and human/wildlife conflict - and their larger implications on power, governance and the human development paradigm in Bhutan and beyond. 

Kent Schroeder is Director of International Development Projects in the Business School at Humber College, Canada. In 2015 Kent received a Certificate of Appreciation from Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay for his contributions to Gross National Happiness.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements 6
Contents 8
Chapter 1 Introduction 9
Abstract 9
1 Gross National Happiness and Human Development 11
2 Governance: A Key Ingredient for Success 12
3 Why Bhutan? 15
4 Analyzing GNH and Governance 18
5 Structure of the Book 22
References 24
Chapter 2 Gross National Happiness 28
Abstract 28
1 Happiness as the Goal of Gross National Happiness 29
2 The Gross National Happiness Framework 31
3 Gross National Happiness as the Image of the Bhutanese State 35
References 36
Chapter 3 Governance and Gross National Happiness 39
Abstract 39
1 Expanded Governance Actors: State and Non-state 40
1.1 The Central Bureaucracy 40
1.2 Autonomous Bodies 42
1.3 Dzongkhag Administrations 43
1.4 Gewog Administrations 44
1.5 Civil Society 44
1.6 The Private Sector 45
1.7 International Donors 46
1.8 The Ethnic Nepalese Minority 46
1.9 A Fragmented Governance Landscape 48
2 GNH Structures and Policy Tools 48
2.1 Gross National Happiness Commission 49
2.2 GNH Policy and Project Screening Tools 49
2.3 GNH Committees 50
2.4 Local GNH Planning Tool 50
2.5 Gross National Happiness Index 52
2.6 Five Year Plans 53
References 53
Chapter 4 The Last Shangri-La? 56
Abstract 56
1 Policy Intentions 57
2 Policy Implementation 58
2.1 “High Value, Low Volume” : Safeguarding Culture and the Environment 59
2.2 “High Value, Low Impact” : Accelerating Economic Growth 60
2.3 Inconsistent Power: Sub-national Governments 62
2.4 Conflicting Power: Non-state and State Actors 65
2.5 Parallel Power: Ecotourism 69
3 Policy Outcomes 72
4 Conclusion 75
References 77
Chapter 5 Wrestling and Cigarettes 79
Abstract 79
1 Policy Intentions 80
2 Policy Implementation 82
2.1 Media Sustainability 83
2.2 Professionalism Challenges 87
2.3 Inconsistencies in Cultural Content 90
3 Policy Outcomes 95
4 Conclusion 97
References 98
Chapter 6 I Will Die Before You Cut My Land 101
Abstract 101
1 Policy Intentions 102
2 Policy Implementation 103
2.1 Democratic Decentralization in Practice: Emerging Community Pressure 105
2.2 Democratic Decentralization in Practice: Capacity and Funding Challenges 111
3 Policy Outcomes 114
4 Conclusion 116
References 118
Chapter 7 Emerging Ambiguity 119
Abstract 119
1 Policy Intentions 120
2 Policy Implementation 122
2.1 ICDP Strategies: Consistent and Inconsistent Practices 123
2.2 Enforcing Regulations: Looking the Other Way 124
2.3 Reporting Human-Wildlife Conflict: Inconsistent Practices and Blurred Accountability 125
2.4 Emergent Ambiguity 128
3 Policy Outcomes 132
4 Conclusion 135
References 136
Chapter 8 Conclusion 137
Abstract 137
1 Gross National Happiness and Governance: Common Themes from Policy Implementation 138
1.1 Governance Interactions: Different Contexts, Different Influence 138
1.2 GNH: Misunderstood and Contested 140
1.3 The GNH Policy Implementation Tools: Missing in Action 142
1.4 Cultural Values: Explaining Policy Outcomes 143
1.5 A GNH State? 146
2 Complex Power and Cultural Values: Rethinking Governance in Human Development 147
2.1 Complex Power 148
2.2 Cultural Values and Complex Power 151
References 154
Index 156

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 3.10.2017
• Zusatzinfo: IX, 159 p. 1 illus.
• Verlagsort: Cham
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung ► Politische Systeme
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung ► Staat / Verwaltung
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung ► Vergleichende Politikwissenschaften
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie
• Schlagworte: Bhutan • Buddhism • Civil Society • Cultural Preservation • Cultural Promotion • Cultural values • decentralization • Democratization • Donor Actors • Environmental sustainability • Farm Roads • Good Governance • Media Policy • private sector • Public sector reform • social services • Socio-Economic Development • South Asia • Tourism • wildlife
• ISBN-10: 3-319-65388-1 / 3319653881
• ISBN-13: 978-3-319-65388-4 / 9783319653884