An Exploratory Study on the Middle Path Approach to Societal Resilience in Bhutan: Balancing Tradition and Modernity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54417/jaetm.v6i1.161Keywords:
Community Resilience, Modernization, Middle Path, Disaster Management, Traditional KnowledgeAbstract
As Bhutan experiences the digital age, the complexities of modernization have intensified climate-related vulnerabilities and challenges the nation’s traditional social fabric. Driven by the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan is globally recognised for its protective social-cultural policies. However, a significant gap remains in systematically balancing indigenous knowledge with modern strategies through a Middle Path framework. Employing a mixed-methods design, the study utilized purposive sampling to engage 51 disaster management officials including, local leaders and and NGO representatives. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics reveal that while indigenous knowledge holds immense potential for localized resilience, the lack of cohesive frameworks and bureaucratic barriers hampers systematic integration. This paper argues for robust, culturally anchored advocacy programs to build societal resilience, offering actional insights for community leaders and policymakers.
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