Today Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck ascended to the Bhutanese throne, making him the youngest head of state in the world. He has already begun democratizing Bhutan and seems to be immensely popular with his people.
This makes me wonder whether electing members of the up-and-coming elite youth is such a bad idea. King Wangchuck, while still asserting his power over his country, is reforming Bhutan for the better. Foregoing the bull-in-the-china-shop help of the United States and spreading democracy gradually is probably a pretty good idea. His ascendancy gives me a lot of hope for the future.
It’s just Bhutan, though, right?
Wrong.
Bhutan is landlocked between India and China. Much like Switzerland and Her Alps (only on a much, much larger scale), the Bhutanese are protected from China by the Great Himalaya Range, making Bhutan a crucial territory for India and Her allies. Bhutan is a buffer, both geographically and emotionally, between two growing super powers and King Wangchuck can do a lot to ensure a peaceful existence between China and India.
So let’s all give a big cheer for King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
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