Bhutan is administered under the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, the idea that spiritual and mental well-being matter as much as money, and that material gain should not come at the expense of the environment or culture.
Bhutan king Jigme Wangchuk marries commoner Jetsun Pema
BBC News – Oct 13, 2011
Jigme Wangchuk was educated in India and Britain and took over after the abdication in 2006 of his father, who began the country’s democratic transition.
In March 2008, Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy and the king relinquished his absolute powers.
“The royal wedding has ensured the continuity of the monarchy,” Tshering Tobgay, Bhutan’s opposition leader told Reuters. “And monarchy has helped strengthen our democracy.”
Tourists were only allowed into the isolated nation in the 1970s. People in Bhutan are still required to wear traditional dress in public.
The kingdom is also well-known for its “Gross National Happiness” index – an alternative to GDP – which measures personal happiness as opposed to economic growth. more
