Bhutan 2020: A vision for peace, prosperity and happiness I is a vision statement that seeks to review the current situation. It looks back at the path Bhutan has traveled as a nation in the past three decades and notes the progress the nation has recorded in a number of fields. It also examines the reasons that help to explain the achievements, and draws conclusions on the distinctive Bhutanese path of development.
Bhutan's development assets have been built up over centuries. The approach to development is inextricably entwined with the Buddhist worldview. The main challenge facing the nation as a whole is the maintenance of the identity, sovereignty and security as a nation state. The existence of Bhutan as a sovereign country is the result of conscious actions taken over several centuries that have sometimes compelled the nation to seek isolation, and at others, seek alliances without compromising the sovereignty. The stability built over several centuries stands in sharp contrast to the situation prevailing in some other parts of the sub-region. The low population density and the conserved natural resource base distinguishes Bhutan from the neighboring countries. The future sovereignty as a nation state will continue to depend upon the articulation of a cultural imperative that asserts the distinctive Bhutanese identity.