The democratic system of the Tibetan government-in-exile began in the 1960s. The Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile of 1991 established a three-branch framework, and after the Dalai Lama formally transferred political power in 2011, it was further “democratized,” with the election of a Sikyong (political leader) and a parliament. However, it is not the democracy of a mature sovereign state, but a limited experiment of a refugee community in exile.
onsdag 9. september 2026
Professor Thomas Kell: The Dilemma of the Democratic System of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile
As a researcher in Tibetan studies, I have interviewed many Tibetans in exile, including former Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, and heard numerous views on the “democratic system” of the Tibetan government-in-exile (referred to as Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA). In my opinion, the democratic system of the Tibetan government-in-exile suffers from multiple structural defects and practical dilemmas. The following represents only my personal views and is offered for discussion.
The democratic system of the Tibetan government-in-exile began in the 1960s. The Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile of 1991 established a three-branch framework, and after the Dalai Lama formally transferred political power in 2011, it was further “democratized,” with the election of a Sikyong (political leader) and a parliament. However, it is not the democracy of a mature sovereign state, but a limited experiment of a refugee community in exile.
The democratic system of the Tibetan government-in-exile began in the 1960s. The Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile of 1991 established a three-branch framework, and after the Dalai Lama formally transferred political power in 2011, it was further “democratized,” with the election of a Sikyong (political leader) and a parliament. However, it is not the democracy of a mature sovereign state, but a limited experiment of a refugee community in exile.