Home > Journals > International Journal of Political Science

International Journal of Political Science

Submit your article Read this Journals View all journals
Full Text (PDF)
Review Article

Bhutan's Engagement in Global Politics Over and Above India and China: A Tryst with Transfiguration of Regional Geopolitical Locus

Uttam Kumar, Krishnendra Meena

Author Information

Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

International Journal of Political Science 8(2):p 109-117, July – December 2022. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/IJOPS.2454.9371.8222.8

How Cite This Article:

Uttam Kumar, Krishnendra Meena/Bhutan's Engagement in Global Politics Over and Above India and China: A Tryst with Transfiguration of Regional Geopolitical Locus/International Journal of Political Science 2022;8(2):109–117.

Timeline

Received : February 09, 2022         Accepted : May 17, 2022          Published : December 30, 2022

Abstract

This article intends to add something new to the body of scholarship on Bhutan's IR by moving away from a solely India–China frame of reference. Small, non-island and non-western governments, like Bhutan, are increasingly important yet under studied in international relations, and it is an important reason to pay greater attention to them. The article also highlights how conventional studies of Bhutan have only concentrated on Bhutan's relationship with India as well as Chinese threats. This results in a better understanding of Bhutan's internal drivers of foreign policy, such as its position on the Doklam crisis. This study postulates new dimensions and insight into Bhutan's global diplomacy.

References

  • 1.   Das, A. (2021, January). Development of the Bhutan with the Assistance of India from colonial to Postcolonial period. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research. 12 (1). DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.24327/ijrsr.2021.1201.5751.document 2018-03. https://takshashila.org.in/wp-content/ uploads/2018/09/TDD-The-Doklam-ImbroglioGPM-AK-2018-03.pdf.
  • 2.   Shiga, H. (2018). India’s Role as a Facilitator of Constitutional Democracy | IDS Bulletin. Vol. 49 No. 3 https://bulletin.ids.ac.uk/index.php/ idsbo/article/view/2982/Online%20article.
  • 3.   Kaul, N. (2021, July 23). Beyond India And China: Bhutan As a Small State In International Relations |International Relations Of the Asia-Pacific| Oxford Academic. OUP Academic. https:// academic.oup.com/irap/advance-article/ doi/10.1093/irap/lcab010/6327065.
  • 4.   ADB. (2017, April 12). Prosperous (and Happy) Bhutan Is Asia’s Fastest Growing Economy | Asian Development Bank. https://www.adb.org/ news/features/prosperous-and-happy-bhutanasia-s-fastest-growing-economy.
  • 5.   Mishra, V. (2013, June 29). Opinion | Bhutan Is No Shangri-La (Published 2013). Opinion | Bhutan Is No Shangri-La (Published 2013). https://www. nytimes.com/2013/06/29/opinion/bhutan-is-no shangri-la.html.
  • 6.   Archana, K. (2016, March 25). Inspiring Story of Bhutan: Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay Explains How the Country Is Carbon Negative. India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/ tsering-tobgay-ted-talk-bhutan-carbon-neutralcarbon-negative-314765-2016-03-25.
  • 7.   Subba, M. (2021, August 4). Bhutan’s Losses on Graduation From LDC To Be Minimum | Kuensel Online. Kuensel Online. https://kuenselonline. com/bhutans-losses-on-graduation-from-ldc-tobe-minimum/.
  • 8.   Ongmo , S., & Parikh, T. (2020, May 8). What Explains Bhutan’s Success Battling COVID-19? – The Diplomat. What Explains Bhutan’s Success Battling COVID-19?. https://thediplomat. com/2020/05/what-explains-bhutans-successbattling-covid-19/.
  • 9.   Borgen (2021, April 6). Bhutan’s COVID-19 Response Protects Those In Poverty -. BORGEN. https://www.borgenmagazine.com/bhutanscovid-19-response/.
  • 10.   Drexler, M. (2021, February 10). Bhutan Is the World's Unlikeliest Pandemic Success Story - The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ international/archive/2021/02/coronaviruspandemic-bhutan/617976/.
  • 11.   Stobdan, P. (2017, July 14). India's Real Problem Lies In Its Bhutan Policy, Not the Border. The Wire. https://thewire.in/diplomacy/india-chinadoklam-real-problem-bhutan.
  • 12.   Bisht, M. (2010, January 19). Sino-Bhutan Boundary Negotiations: Complexities Of the ‘Package Deal’ | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies And Analyses. Sino-Bhutan Boundary Negotiations: Complexities of the ‘Package Deal’ | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. https://idsa.in/idsacomments/SinoBhutanBoundaryNegotiations_mbisht_190110.
  • 13.   Mørch, M. (2016, September 21). Bhutan’s Dark Secret: The Lhotshampa Expulsion – The Diplomat. Bhutan’s Dark Secret: The Lhotshampa Expulsion. https://thediplomat.com/2016/09/bhutansdark-secret-the-lhotshampa-expulsion/.
  • 14.   Gazmere, R., & Bishwo, D. (2000, April). Bhutanese Refugees: Rights To Nationality, Return And Property | Forced Migration Review. Bhutanese refugees: rights to nationality, return and property | Forced Migration Review. https:// www.fmreview.org/land-and-property-issues/ gazmere-bishwo.
  • 15.   Stanzel, V. (2018). New Realities In Foreign Affairs: Diplomacy In the 21st Century - Stiftung Wissenschaft Und Politik. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP). https://www.swp-berlin.org/ en/publication/new-realities-in-foreign-affairsdiplomacy-in-the-21st-century.
  • 16.   Berenskoetter, F. & Hoef, Y. (2017, July 27). Friendship and Foreign Policy. 10.1093/ acrefore/9780190228637.013.429.
  • 17.   Mehta, J. (2002). Catalysing graduated modernisation through diplomacy: Nehru’s visit to Bhutan-1958, World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues 6(2), 84-103. https://www.jstor. org/stable/pdf/45064894.pdf?ab_segments=0%2 Fbasic_search%2Fcontrol&refreqid=se.
  • 18.   Tharakan, A. (2016, July 12). Too Much Dragon, Too Little Kingdom - The Hindu. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/toomuch-dragon-too-little-kingdom/article4918267. ece.
  • 19.   Ramakant, & Misra, R. C. (1996). Bhutan: Society and polity. New Delhi: Indus Pub. Co.
  • 20.   Rattan, K. (1989, September 15). Bhutan Government Sets In Motion a Programme To Rediscover Its Traditional Values. India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/specialreport/story/19890915-bhutan-governmentsets-in-motion-a-programme-to-rediscover-itstraditional-values-816495-1989-09-15.
  • 21.   Belfiglio, V. J. (1972). India’s Economic and Political Relations with Bhutan. Asian Survey, 12(8), 676–685. https://doi.org/10.2307/2643108.
  • 22.   The Hindu. (2014, December 09). Bhutan, Not India, First Recognised Bangladesh. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international /south-asia/bhutan-not-india-first-recognisedbangladesh/article6677033.ece.
  • 23.   The Economic Times. (2014, December 09). India: Bhutan, Not India Was First To Recognise Bangladesh-The Economic Times. https:// economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politicsand-nation/bhutan-not-india-was-first-torecognise-bangladesh/articleshow/45435735.cms.
  • 24.   Whitecross, R.W. (2002). Zhabdrung's Legacy : state transformation, law and social values in contemporary Bhutan (Doctoral dissertation, the University of Edinburgh University, United Kingdom). Retrieved from https://era.ed.ac.uk/ handle/1842/8369?show=full.
  • 25.   Ram, M., (1980). Keeping a neighbour in line. Far Eastern Economic Review. May 30, 32–34.
  • 26.   Penjore, Dorji. (2004). Security of Bhutan: Walking Between the Giants. Journal of Bhutan Studies[P]. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0365158.
  • 27.   Bisht, M. (2017, July 25). Doklam Is the Result Of China Rapidly 'Drifting In', Not Bhutan And India Drifting Apart. The Wire. https://thewire. in/diplomacy/doklam-intersection-bhutan-indiachina.
  • 28.   Vasudeva, P. K. (2021, June 16). China And Bhutan - The Statesman. The Statesman. https:// www.thestatesman.com/opinion/china-andbhutan-1502973248.html.
  • 29.   Firstpost. (2017, June 30). Bhutan Issues Scathing Statement Against China, Claims Beijing Violated Border Agreements of 1988, 1998-India News, Firstpost. https://www.firstpost.com/india/ bhutan-issues-scathing-statement-against-chinaclaims-beijing-violated-border-agreementsof-1988-1998-3760587.html.
  • 30.   Kuensel (2017, June 30). Road Construction Inside Bhutanese Territory Violates Agreements: MFA Kuensel Online. Kuensel Online. https:// kuenselonline.com/road-construction-insidebhutanese-territory-violates-agreements-mfa/.
  • 31.   Joshi, M. (2017, August 9). Doklam: To start at the very beginning. ORF Special Report. https:// www.orfonline.org/research/doklam-start-verybeginning/.
  • 32.   Myers, S.., Barry, E., & Fisher, . (2017, July 26). How India And China Have Come To the Brink Over a Remote Mountain Pass (Published 2017). The New York Times.https://www.nytimes. com/2017/07/26/world/asia/dolam-plateauchina-india-bhutan.html.
  • 33.   Nanda, P. (2017, June 30). Sikkim Standoff: Beijing Should Realise Bhutan is as Important to India As North Korea is to China-World News , Firstpost. Firstpost. https://www.firstpost.com/world/ sikkim-standoff-beijing-should-realise-bhutanis-as-important-to-india-as-north-korea-is-tochina-3760997.html.
  • 34.   Som, V. (2017, June 29). At Heart Of India-China Standoff, A Road Being Built In Donglang In Sikkim Sector: 10 Points. NDTV.com. https://www.ndtv. com/india-news/amid-india-china-standoffarmy-chief-in-sikkim-today-10-facts-1718311.
  • 35.   Times Of India (2017, June 30). Chinese Troops Entered Doklam Area In Attempt To Construct Road: MEA | India News - Times Of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ chinese-troops-entered-doklam-area-in-attenptto-construct-road-mea/articleshow/59384131. cms.
  • 36.   Panda, A. (2017, July 13). The Political Geography Of the India-China Crisis At Doklam – The Diplomat. The Political Geography of the IndiaChina Crisis at Doklam. https://thediplomat. com/2017/07/the-political-geography-of-theindia-china-crisis-at-doklam/.
  • 37.   Bhardwaj, S. (2017, August 9). Doklam May Bring Bhutan Closer To India. mint. h t t p s : / / w w w . l i v e m i n t . c o m / O p i n i o n / GXIc4NLACn5jxHv6RkkX7I/Doklam-may-bringBhutan-closer-to-India.html.
  • 38.   Sartori, A. (2013). Deterrence by Diplomacy. Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi. org/10.1515/9781400849444.
  • 39.   Swami, P. (2017, August 29). Doklam Disengagement: Sigh Of Relief In Bhutan But for Its Troops, Fears Remain, Fingers Crossed | India News,The Indian Express. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sigh-ofrelief-in-bhutan-but-for-its-troops-fears-remainfingers-crossed-doklam-standoff-china-4818393/.
  • 40.   Barnett, R. (2021, May 7). Chinese Villages, Security Forces Revealed Inside Bhutan's Borders. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/07/ china-bhutan-border-villages-security-forces/.
  • 41.   Krishnan, A. (2020, November 23). China’s Media Show New Bhutan Border Village Built In Disputed Territory - The Hindu. The Hindu. https://www. thehindu.com/news/international/chinasmedia-show-new-bhutan-border-village-built-indisputed-territory/article33162585.ece.
  • 42.   Som, V. (2020, November 20). China Sets Up Village Within Bhutan, 9 Km From Doklam FaceOff Site. NDTV.com. https://www.ndtv.com/ world-news/china-sets-up-village-within-bhutan- 9-km-from-doklam-face-off-site-2327563.
  • 43.   Som, V. (2022, January 13). Exclusive: In Latest Threat To India, China Builds Illegal Villages Inside Bhutan. NDTV.com. https://www.ndtv. com/india-news/exclusive-high-res-images-newchinese-enclaves-in-bhutan-show-166-buildingsroads-2706044.
  • 44.   Gallenkamp, M. (2011, May 31). The History Of Institutional Change In the Kingdom Of Bhutan : A Tale Of Vision, Resolve, And Power - HeiDOK. The History of Institutional Change in the Kingdom of Bhutan: A Tale of Vision, Resolve, and Power - heiDOK. https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/ volltextserver/12042/.
  • 45.   Banerjee, M., Backerra, C., & Sarti, C. (2017). Transnational Histories Of the 'Royal Nation' | SpringerLink. Transnational Histories of the 'Royal Nation' | SpringerLink. https://link.springer. com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-319-50523-7.
  • 46.   Mathou, T. (1994),
  • 47.   Lemon, E. & Jardine, B. (2021). Central Asia’s Multivector Defense Diplomacy. Kennan Institute. Wilson Centre. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/ publication/kennan-cable-no-68-central-asiasmulti-vector-defense-diplomacy.
  • 48.   Menon, K. P. S. (1968). China: past & present. London : Asia Publishing House
  • 49.   Sunanda K. Datta-Ray. (1981, July 17).
  • 50.   Kohli, M. (1986). Bhutan’s Strategic Environment: Changing Perceptions. India Quarterly, 42(2), 142– 153. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45072097.
  • 51.   Bisht, M. (2012, January 1). Bhutan's Foreign Policy Determinants: An Assessment | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies And Analyses. Bhutan's Foreign Policy Determinants: An Assessment | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. https://idsa.in/ strategicanalysis/36_1/BhutansForeignPolicyDet erminants_MedhaBisht.
  • 52.   Panda, A. (2017, July 18). What’s Driving the India-China Standoff At Doklam? – The Diplomat. What’s Driving the India-China Standoff at Doklam?. https://thediplomat.com/2017/07/ whats-driving-the-india-china-standoff-atdoklam/.
  • 53.   Sarki, A. (2019). India–Bhutan Relations: Paradiplomacy, Domestic Considerations and New Delhi’s Prerogative. World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues, 23(4), 138–151. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48566203.
  • 54.   Shasiharan, P. (2020, December 25). Bhutan: India First, But Not India Alone? – The Diplomat. Bhutan: India First, But Not India Alone?. https:// thediplomat.com/2020/12/bhutan-india-firstbut-not-india-alone/.
  • 55.   Chetri, R. (1988, January 30). The Essence Of Bhutan’s Foreign Policy. The Kathmandu Post. https://www.nepalresearch.com/publications/ rakesh_1998.htm.
  • 56.   Tshedup, Y. (2021, April 27). Bhutan Prepares To Supply Oxygen To India | Kuensel Online. Kuensel Online. https://kuenselonline.com/ bhutan-prepares-to-supply-oxygen-to-india/.
  • 57.   Zunes, S. (2020, March 5). Pakistan's Movement for the Restoration Of Democracy (1981-1984) |ICNC. ICNC. https://www.nonviolent-conflict. org/pakistans-movement-restoration-democracy- 1981-1984/.
  • 58.   Choo, S., Sawch, D., Villanueva, A., & Vinz, R. (2017). Educating for the 21st Century Perspectives, Policies And Practices From Around the World. Springer. ISBN 978-981-10-1673-8.
  • 59.   MFA, RGoB (2021). Foreign Policy Of the Kingdom Of Bhutan. https://www.mfa.gov.bt/ wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Foreign-PolicyDocument.pdf.
  • 60.   Malhotra, J. (2013, January 28). Bhutan King Shows the Way In South Asia. Business Standard News. https://www.business-standard.com/article/ international/bhutan-king-shows-the-way-insouth-asia-113012800096_1.html.

Data Sharing Statement

There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.

Funding

This research received no funding.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.

Ethics Declaration

This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.

Conflicts of Interest

No conflicts of interest in this work.

About this article

Cite this article

Uttam Kumar, Krishnendra Meena/Bhutan's Engagement in Global Politics Over and Above India and China: A Tryst with Transfiguration of Regional Geopolitical Locus/International Journal of Political Science 2022;8(2):109–117.

Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

Received Accepted Published
February 09, 2022 May 17, 2022 December 30, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/IJOPS.2454.9371.8222.8

Keywords

Global diplomacyInternational relationsDoklamBhutanIndiaChina

Article Level Metrics

Last Updated

Tuesday 22 September 2026, 13:38:08 (IST)

1338

Accesses

10
238
00

Citations


NA
NA
NA

Download citation


Article Keywords

Keyword Highlighting

Highlight selected keywords in the article text.


Timeline

Received February 09, 2022
Accepted May 17, 2022
Published December 30, 2022

licence

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.


Access this article

Reprint Order Form
Buy this Article
Institutional Subscriptions

Share