Bhutan

Please provide us with your views on the state of peace in the country you will represent at the One Young World Summit.

Bhutan, the country I will represent at the One Young World Summit, is ranked 13th among 163 countries on the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2016 according to data compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The same report shows that Bhutan is the most peaceful country in South Asia. The unique stability of my country is a result of the inspirational leadership provided by the generations of our kings. Bhutan became a democracy in 2008 according to the wishes of His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan. Perhaps we are a unique case in the history of democracy because the people of Bhutan protested to remain a monarchy. Bhutan peacefully transitioned to a modern-day democracy guided by the enlightened King. The fourth king is also the father of Bhutan’s unique developmental philosophy, Gross National Happiness. According to this national philosophy, the well-being of the Bhutanese people is prioritized over materialistic development.

How do you think your work and/or activism contribute to a sustainable peace? 

Bhutan has a strong leadership in the form of our Kings, well -stablished societal institutions and a clear national philosophy for development called Gross National Happiness. These are key ingredients for a peaceful and sustainable nation state. However, an economic crisis fueled by income and wealth inequality or climate Change threatens the very foundation of my country.As an entrepreneur, I am currently the founder of a social cooperative. Our primary objective is to address income and wealth inequality by promoting collectively owned businesses and a sustainable universal basic income model for Bhutan.  These objectives are quintessential steps to ensure a stable socio-economy. I represent the Bhutanese Cooperative Movement to the International Cooperative Alliance and promote international cooperation to address economic inequality and climate change.