Waseda University COE-CAS (Center of Excellence-Contemporary Asian Studies)
Research Group on "Social Development in Asia" Public Lecture

Bhutan and Gross National Happiness (GNH)
In Pursuit of A New Paradigm for Human Development

What images are evoked by the nation of Bhutan ? Over-simplified and unrealistic images have been constructed in the discourse of " Orientalism," due to Bhutan's history of closing its doors to the outside world for centuries in self-imposed isolation. Its representation in the media stereotypically stresses the mysticism and romanticism: an exotic land of Buddhist monks, mountain monarchy and so on.
But what is the reality ?

Located between China and India, the two most populous nations in the world, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is classified as an LLDC with a GDP of 760 dollars. It is regarded as a small country with a population of 700,000. In spite of its smallness in terms of geography and GNP, it has increasingly attracted attention these days and is emerging as a new model of development for its distinctive policy: Gross National Happiness. Central to its conceptual framework is a blend of socio-economic development, of spiritual values, and of a rich culture. Resisting the compelling forces of accelerating globalization and homogenization, Bhutan preserves its unique identity and tries to avoid being swallowed up by being different.

In this lecture, Mr. Dorji will give a talk on Gross National Happiness as Bhutan's national policy and as an alternative for human development. In so doing, he will discuss what has been lost in the process of modernization in the 20th century in rethinking what is real Happiness for human beings.

Organized by Waseda University COE-Contemporary Asian Studies: Research Group on Social Development
In cooperation with The Japan Foundation and The International House of Japan