MIB Beyond the Classroom: Local Influencers and Their Impact on the Public Understanding of the State Philosophy

Abstract

In recent years, Brunei has seen a rise in the ‘influencer culture’—a global trend tied to the rise of technology and Internet fame. An ‘influencer’ refers to someone, usually a young adult with an online presence and an appealing persona, with the power to influence the way people think and behave. Influencers tend to comprise celebrities, youth leaders, social media users, and are typically seen as role models by their followers. In the Malay-Muslim-majority context of Brunei, local influencers also consist of state preachers who give religious and motivational talks about the ideals of life in accordance with the country’s national philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy; this philosophy is officially acknowledged as the basis for national identity and the way of life in Brunei. Given their large following, particularly among the youth, these local influencers may play a role in shaping the public understanding of Malay Islamic Monarchy and the ideal Bruneian identity. However, little to no research has been done to examine the nature and impact of the role of these influencers on the Bruneian society as well as their approaches to understanding, describing and portraying the state philosophy to the public. This study, therefore, attempts to fill this research gap by investigating whether (and how) these local influencers contribute to the public understanding of Malay Islamic Monarchy beyond the formal classroom and education context. Through a mixed-method qualitative study that involves interviews and an analysis of documents, the study discovers public narratives and attitudes that are far more nuanced than the existing literature would suggest.