Brunei Darussalam: Malay Islamic Monarchy and Rentier State

Abstract

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. Following recent studies on the stability of authoritarian regimes, which emphasize the importance of legitimation, co-optation, and repression for the reproduction of authoritarian rule, the royalist regime seems to have struck a balance between legitimation, cooptation, and repression as the three pillars of 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, demands for political liberalization are few and far between. Neither civil society nor political opposition parties are able or willing to challenge the ruling system. This chapter provides a systematic overview of the political actors, institutions, and dynamics of Brunei's political system and summarizes recent developments.