Politics of Brunei
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The politics of Brunei take place in a framework of an
History
British rule over the Sultanate of Brunei was in place from 1888 until the
The Sultan
Prior to the
When Brunei regained full independence on 1 January 1984, the Sultan became prime minister, minister of finance, defence, foreign and home affairs, leading a six-member government.[3] In October 1986, he appointed additional ministers for finance and home affairs, expanding the cabinet to eleven members. A 1988 cabinet change promoted the deputy minister to a full minister and established the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources to promote national growth.[4]
Political conditions
About half of monarchic dictators suffer serious consequences such as death and imprisonment, Brunei is lauded as one of the most stable dictatorships.[7] Due to their rarity, the outcomes of monarchic dictatorships are not well studied and through preference falsification, contentment with the Bruneian sultan and government may be overestimated, but up to this point, there are no known organized or small-scale efforts against the ruling government.[8] Due to high oil revenue, Brunei has been able to provide extensive social services to its population, including free education and health care.[9]
Welfare provision is a strong method for the Bruneian regime to exercise nonviolent political control, as citizens are reliant on the state both for employment and social services.
Executive
Prior to the
Executive Council
According to the constitution, all executive subjects and those scheduled for presentation at Legislative Council sessions are reviewed by the Executive Council. Eleven people make up this group: the
Privy Council
According to the constitution, the privy council advises the sultan in the matters concerning the exercise of authority of mercy and the amendment or revocation of provisions in the constitution. The council also advises the sultan on the conferring of Malay customary ranks, titles and honours. It also performs functions such as proclaiming a succession of regency. Members of the privy council include members of the royal family and senior government officials.[14][5]
Council of Succession
The constitution states that, in the event that it becomes necessary, the council will decide who will succeed to the throne. In charge of it is Duli Pengiran Bendahara. The cheterias, four menteris, six members of the Religious Council, and every Malay member of the Executive Council make up its membership.[5]
Religious Council
The Religious Council counsels the Sultan on all subjects pertaining to Islam in his function as the Head of the Islamic Faith. The State Religious Affairs Officer serves as
Council of Cabinet Ministers
A council of ministers, or cabinet consists of nine members (including the sultan, as prime minister), perform the day-to-day administrative functions of government.[16] In addition to developing and distributing working documents to the Cabinet Ministers' Council members, the primary duty is to advise the Sultan on matters of national administration, including policy approval.[17]
Legislative
The Legislative Council (Malay: Majlis Mesyuarat Negera) is empowered by the constitution to create laws, oversee budgets, and voice objections to actions taken by the executive branch. The speaker is in charge of it when it convenes in public. Ten official members, nineteen unofficial members, and six ex-officio members make up this council.[5] The sultan appoints the council's members, and the unicameral body has no political authority. Since 1962, Brunei has not conducted direct parliamentary elections. Village-level councils are elected and have a consultative function; nevertheless, the government screens the candidates.[2]
The appointed Legislative Council questions and answers with government representatives and formally approves the state budget, while having no independent authority. The council convenes once a year for a roughly two-week session. Nonetheless, the Bruneian government's activities generally lack transparency.[2] In 2004, the sultan announced that for the next parliament, 15 of the 20 seats would be elected. However, no date for the election has been set.[18]
Since 13 January 2017, the council has 33 members, including 13 cabinet ministers.[19]
Political parties
The lack of national elections in Brunei limits legitimate political involvement and keeps opposition forces from rising to prominence, allowing the Sultan to retain his position of power. Social movements offer restricted channels for contesting unpopular policies; yet, racial and religious minorities have little chances to get involved in politics, even locally.[2] Although there are no elections, the following legal party exists:
- National Development Party was allowed to register in 2005; it is the only party that has done so after promising to cooperate with the government and to swear allegiance to the monarch.[2]
Former parties include:
- Brunei National Solidarity Party was abruptly removed in 2007.[2]
- The Brunei People's Awareness Party (Parti Kesedaran Rakyat Brunei, PAKAR) was a legally registered political party, but was not able to gain electoral representation as legislative elections had not been held in Brunei since 1962. The party was deregistered in 2007 or 2008.
- Brunei National Democratic Party
- Brunei People's Party
Judiciary
Brunei founded by the
Alongside the supreme court, a
See also
References
- ^ Talib, Naimah S. "A resilient monarchy: The Sultanate of Brunei and regime legitimacy in an era of democratic nation-states." New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies 4, no. 2 (2002): 134-147.; Frantz, Erica. Authoritarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know®. Oxford University Press, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Brunei: Freedom in the World 2020 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b Odering, Jason. "Library Guides: Southeast Asian Region Countries Law: Brunei Darussalam". unimelb.libguides.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Brunei Darussalam". www.un.int. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Great Britain Colonial Office (1965). Brunei. H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 228–230.
- ISSN 2548-3870.
- ^ Roberts, Christopher (2011). "Brunei Darussalam: Consolidating the Foundations of its Future?". Southeast Asian Affairs. 2011 (1): 33–50. Project MUSE 485106.
- ^ Frantz, Erica. Authoritarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know®. Oxford University Press, 2018.; Kuran, T. (1991). Now Out of Never: The Element of Surprise in the East European Revolution of 1989. World Politics, 44(1), 7–48. https://doi.org/10.2307/2010422; Müller, D. M. (2022). Beyond the Sharia State: Public Celebrations and Everyday State-Making in the Malay Islamic Monarchy of Brunei Darussalam. Asian Journal of Law and Society, 9(3), 418–439. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ Ananta, A., Hoon, C. Y., & Hamdan, M. (Eds.). (2023). Stability, Growth and Sustainability: Stability, Growth and Sustainability. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
- ^ Hassan, Mai, Daniel Mattingly, and Elizabeth R. Nugent. "Political control." Annual Review of Political Science 25 (2022): 155-174.; Ananta, A., Hoon, C. Y., & Hamdan, M. (Eds.). (2023). Stability, Growth and Sustainability: Stability, Growth and Sustainability. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
- ^ Kuran, T. (1991). Now Out of Never: The Element of Surprise in the East European Revolution of 1989. World Politics, 44(1), 7–48. https://doi.org/10.2307/2010422; North, Douglass C. Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance. Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
- S2CID 154040330.
- ^ Salawati Haji Yahya (24 December 2018). "Galeri Pusat Sejarah dibuka untuk orang ramai". Media Permata Online (in Malay). Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- Brunei Times. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- Brunei Times. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ^ "Brunei Darussalam 1959 (rev. 1984)". Constitute. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat - The Unit of Cabinet Ministers' Council". www.councils.gov.bn. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Timeline: Brunei". BBC News. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ "Pelantikan Keahlian Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Baharu". Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Department of Information, Brunei. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ a b "OVERVIEW OF BRUNEI LEGAL SYSTEM". cacj-ajp.org. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Countries". Commonwealth Governance. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Statistics Main Page". www.judiciary.gov.bn. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Introducing Brunei". www.mfa.gov.bn. Retrieved 17 May 2024.