Brunei Darussalam: Malay Islamic Monarchy and Rentier State

Abstract

This chapter provides a systematic overview of the political actors, institutions, and dynamics of Brunei’s political system and summarizes recent developments. As the only ruling monarchy in Southeast Asia, the Sultanate of Brunei seems a political anachronism in the region. Yet it is also a beacon of political stability in Southeast Asia. The royalist regime has struck a balance between legitimation, co-optation, and repression as the three pillars of stable authoritarian rule. Rent income from petroleum and natural gas allowed the regime to finance a well-developed security apparatus to defend against internal and external challengers but also provide its citizens with a generous welfare state and employment opportunities in the public sector. An expanding state administration provides patronage to members of the political elite. To corroborate his normative claim to power, the Sultan has emphasized the idea of the Malay Islamic Monarchy in recent years and portrays himself as a proponent and guarantor of morally superior Islamic rule. So far, neither civil society nor political opposition parties is able or willing to challenge the ruling system.