Summary:
The article reviews Tshering Tobgay’s memoir, Enlightened Leadership: Inside Bhutan’s Inspiring Transition from Monarchy to Democracy. Tobgay, Bhutan’s prime minister (currently since January 2024 and previously from 2013 to 2018), presents Bhutan as a model of successful transition from monarchy to democracy and highlights the country’s unique Gross National Happiness index as an alternative measure of progress.

However, the article criticizes Tobgay’s memoir for glossing over or misrepresenting some of Bhutan’s more difficult political and historical realities. Notably, it sidesteps the controversial expulsion of the Lhotshampa ethnic minority in the 1990s, which many consider an act of ethnic cleansing. The book also avoids addressing ongoing challenges such as economic stagnation, rising emigration, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism.

While Tobgay’s leadership and vision are framed as inspiring and compassionate—offering lessons for leaders worldwide—the article suggests that his narrative is overly sanitized and fails to confront the complex issues behind Bhutan’s carefully maintained image as the “Kingdom of Happiness.”

Archive: https://archive.md/NjapK