Tibetan Democratic Polity: Some Issues
* Modern System:
- Democracy (Republicanism)
- Secularism (separation of church and state)
- Universal adult suffrage (Popular Sovereignty - Consent of the Governed)
* Tibetan Polity:
- Theoretically and practically - Semi Democratic and Semi Theocratic system.
- Chosi Sungdrel (combination of religion and politics: according to Charter)
- Rejected Cholug Rimey (secularism) in the constituent assembly debate.
- Permanent institution of Dalai Lama.
- Popularly elected Kalon Tripa (PM).
- Functioning pillars of democracy (executive, legislature and judiciary)
*Some Issues:
- Theoretically, road to true modern democracy (Tibetan polity) is impaired by the current Chosi Sungdrel system, represented by the institution of Dalai Lama.
- In reality, people's deep faith and connection (religio-cultural) as well as the inevitability of the leadership (religious and temporal) of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
- Strong legitimacy of the institution of Dalai Lama, based upon the reasons which are: Historical, Religious, Cultural and Traditional.
- Philosophically (Buddhist), the community of religion need not indulge in the earthly world of politics, thus need not play any role in this sphere. In reality in Tibetan case, it was totally opposite. But in modern Secular democratic philosophy, every individual, whether lay person or a person of religious affiliation, has equal right to participate and indulge in the functioning of democracy and government. Thus comes the conflict (atleast theoretically) between the 'Culture' (Buddhism philosophy) and 'Democracy' (modern political philosophy).
- Semi theocratic system undermines the full development, maturity and the growth of modern Tibetan democracy, but the irony is that, very success of that growth to a large extend depends upon the role of Dalai Lama. Thus current system somewhat becomes what we call in political science: a necessary evil.
- Therefore, current practice (chosig Sungdrel) is based upon practicality (functionality) and in accordance with the present reality and necessity. Even though its obsolete and undemocratic nature is apparent, but it’ll continue until the end of that very necessity or till it fulfills its utility. Thus it is no longer a permanent system, rather it's a transitory in nature and has its specific temporary practical usage. So, it is based upon the idea of "Utilitarianism".
- The apparent future goal: Cholug Rimey (secularism) based upon the true democratic values.
