Brunei: How Did it Get to Where it is Now?
Teshia Sheldon
HUMN 305 E3WW
Terence Skiba
August 31, 2014

Brunei has experienced many different events that have developed the country in multiple ways. It has gone through multiple cultural, economic, and governmental changes over the century. These changes have affected the current stance of the country along with the current governmental feeling.
Geography and History Brunei shares boarders with Malaysia and along the coast of the South China Sea. The Philippians are to the North East and Vietnam and Cambodia are to the North West.
The country does not have much of a history prior to the 15th century. Over the times, the country was under Spanish and Portuguese control. In 1888, the county came a protectorate of Great Britain do to internal conflict. While under the protection of the British government, Brunei entered the petroleum industry by beginning production in 1929. This was one of the biggest events in Brunei until World War II. At this time, the Japanese occupied the country. Once the war was over, Britain began negotiations for the eventual independence of Brunei (Thambipillai, 2014).
The Political Situation The independence of the country was a multistep process that began in 1959 when Brunei became the primary governing entity with assistance of a high commissioner from Britain, who maintained foreign policy and defense. The second step in the process of independence came at the time that the country developed a constitution and elected a Legislative Council. The country was on track to transfer to a representative government, however due to revolt, this did not happen. British troops were able to keep the revolt under control. Once all this took place, “the sultan then called a state of emergency and suspended most provisions of the constitution. New elections were held in 1965, but appointed members still retained their majority in the council.” (Thambipillai). The country flourished in the oil industry and became one of the wealthiest nations per capita. In 1984, Brunei finally becomes an independent nation (BBC, 2014).
In 1990, the sultan introduced the idea of Malay Islamic Monarchy. This allowed for older traditional style of life and government to be reinstated. This made the Chinese population uncomfortable as it was the traditional Muslim way of life. Despite this change, the country was still thriving economically and politically, the only down turn during this thriving economy was during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990’s.
With the governmental change to the Malay Islamic Monarchy, this brought stricter Islamic practices. Shariah (or Syariah in Malay) law was used to settle personal matters such a domestic issues and marriage. The sultan wanted to expand this to include criminal offenses and made the announcement in October of 2013 that the first phase of implementation of this would occur in 2014.
While much of the governmental changes were taking place, economical changes were happening too. Brunei and Malaysia were having land and oil dispute. “In 2009 an agreement was reached by which Brunei would drop its claim on Limbang and Malaysia would forgo its claim to oil-rich areas in the South China Sea that the two countries had contested. However, the two countries would jointly exploit any reserves found there” (Thambipillai).
The Economic Standing
In regard the economic standing of this country, it is a small but extremely wealthy nation. “It has remained stable with an average inflation rate of 1.5% over the pat twenty years”. Brunei has relied on the oil and petroleum industry for the past eighty years. “Hydrocarbon resources account for over 90% of its export an more than 50% of its Gross Domestic Product. Today, Brunei is the fourth largest oil producer in South East Asia and the ninth largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in the world” (MINT).
Due to the reliance of natural resources and the current realization of depletion of these resources, the country is working to diversify their economy. They are looking towards fishing, agriculture, tourism and forestry. The country currently imports a mass majority of the food requirements. To manage all the resources and the way they are distributed, the government subsidizes certain staples as well as housing, electricity, water and oil. They also provide medical services and free education through university levels.
Brunei’s economy seems to reflect its history because of how many different influences that were a part of their experiences and development. The economic stance of wealth and subsidies is influenced by their surround countries, Malaysia and China, both of which have helped in the development of this country. Brunei has a strong influence of Islamic styles and architecture as well as much of the traditional Muslim ways of life.
Global Community Challenges
I personally feel that some of the most important challenges facing Brunei as part of the global community is the governmental law and the reliance on other countries for resources that the country does not produce. The governmental law (Shariah law) is extremely controversial in the global community mostly in part to all of the treaties in regard to human rights that are in existence. The United Nations (of which Brunei became a part of) is challenging the Shariah law being part of the criminal justice system. It is challenging for the global community that has fought against inhuman treatment of people to accept the ideal of someone being stoned to death for committing adultery, or receiving governmental intervention for being pregnant out of wedlock. This among other suggestions like amputation for theft. In the traditional manner of this law, for theft one hand and the opposite foot were amputated as punishment.
The other challenge within the global community is Brunei’s dependence with such a high import rate is ensuring that demands are met. However, with Brunei expanding their economic uses inside their country, it could also harbor a damaging effect on the global community as many of these countries that supply food and other supplies, rely on the funding from Brunei to improve and maintain their economic standing as well.
Brunei has a very extensive and intense history that has had major effects on how the country works. They have had so many influences that have helped mold the country politically and economically that allows for a level of diversity in its current standings.

References
BBC (2014). Brunei Profile. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-12990560 MINT Sdn Bhd (2014). Economic Overview. Retrieved from http://www.bedb.com.bn/why_ecoverview.html New Zealand Mistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2012). Brunei Economic Situation. Retrieved from http://www.asean.fta.govt.nz/brunei-darussalam-economic-situation
Thambipillai, Pushpa (2014/5/13). Brunei. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/82119/Brunei