Changing Dynamics of Bhutan’s Foreign Policy: Implications for India

Abstract

Bhutan has historically maintained a neutral relationship with China, to its north,and a more special relationship with India, whose states border it’s West,East and South.From many years various factors are forcing Bhutan to settle its longstanding territorial and border dispute with China and diversify it’s own changing economy and transition from an absolute monarchy to a Republic, a generational shift and their exposure to the Internet, and geopolitical events similar as China’s economic and military rise and India’s economic liberalisation policy. This paper analyzes these changes and ponders their effect on bhutan’s foreign policy, overall, and specifically its relations with China and India.