Introduction
Bhutan Watch was established in 2019 as a non-profit and non-partition think tank in order to advance and spread conscience on importance of proper and successful democratic transition in Bhutan, to research, contribute to the strengthening of civil society and democratisation in general and continuously monitor that civil rights of the Bhutanese citizens are protected, safeguarded and promoted.
The Bhutan Watch was established with broader aim to carve on a new path for in-depth, factual and scholarly research across multiple disciplines related to Bhutan.
The Bhutan Watch’s philosophy emphasises on construction of qualitative and scholarly research papers and reports on various disciplines in collaborations with other institutions, writers, researchers and practitioners.
The Bhutan Watch focuses its research on socio-economic, cultural, political, historical and other aspects of Bhutan and contribute towards accelerating modernisation in the country. Bhutan’s advancement, for centuries, was partially interrupted by the isolation.
The hospitality that Bhutanese provide to foreigners and popularity that Bhutanese development philosophy Gross National Happiness (GNH) achieved across the globe has posed Bhutan’s good image. The mass expulsion of southern Bhutanese in 1990 and supporters of these expelled people propagated a negative image of Bhutan.
The Bhutan Watch will work towards finding a middle-path to the contrasts that will help direct all energy for Bhutan’s overall development. We will go beyond the debates of allegations and counter allegations to draw lines for both the sides to come and work together. Above all, the Bhutan Watch will rise above sectarian, political, group and individual interests to ensure Bhutan has clear policies and practices and that the country has fairer deals for every individual citizens and residents.
The Bhutan Watch will make available perennial flow of information for the development planners, policy makers, researchers, politicians and well wishers. It will generate and synthesize the knowledge required to utilize the resources in the country more effectively and to deal with the problems of the country. The institute visualizes an important role for itself in bringing into focus the true stories of the country based on facts and evidence.
Mission & Vision
The mission of Bhutan Watch is to shape intellectual discourse and dialogue and impact public policy that will drive Bhutan towards a peaceful, democratic, prosperous nation. This will be done through research, academic partnerships, and issue based campaigns and publications.
Bhutan Watch envisions developing strong, pragmatic and principled discourses and debates by engaging policymakers, experts and the public with innovative, fact-based research, ideas and analysis to shape future policies of Bhutan and its diaspora. A key part of our mission is to inform and prepare the capable, innovative and informed new leaders for tomorrow.
To this end, the Bhutan Watch works to propagate liberal values and ideas including diversity, tolerance, accountability, and transparency through research, publication, and international exchange.
Objectives
- To monitor, analyse, report and recommend the Bhutan Government and relevant International Bodies on issues that have closer connection with the Bhutanese people
- To promote intellectual debates and debates on Bhutan’s human rights, political system, geography, demography, language, culture and other appropriate subjects
- To build wide network of researchers, experts and intellectuals who have worked on issues related to Bhutan and Bhutanese people
- To organise seminars, workshops and conferences on contemporary Bhutanese issues and provide recommendations to take actions and make policy amendments
- To act as an alert watchdog with regard to Bhutan and its political institutions
- Bhutan Watch will work towards making Bhutan and its people safe, dignified, free of all sorts of discriminations and a democracy that is complete inclusive and vibrant.
- Bhutan Watch will establish itself as the only formidable and credible think tank whose advices and inputs are sought by even Bhutan and every major world bodies when it comes to Bhutan.
- Bhutan Watch will always work in the interest of Bhutanese People and under no circumstances compromises when it comes to the issues of sovereignty and integrity of Bhutan.