Report on Brunei Darussalam
This report is about a country called Brunei Darussalam that is found in the South East part of the Asian peninsula. It is a beautiful yet very interesting state to live in as it is completely surrounded by Sarawak state of the larger Malaysia (Brown 2006). It is a country that has come a long way in terms of its existence and of has a very interesting profile as the only country in the region that is British dependency. In 1984, it attained its independence. It is a country that is ranked among the best because it is one of the few countries that have got very high standards of living. This is evident for it has been ranked at position thirty in the world with $ 16.95 billion nominal GDP. This can be further explained by the fact that its people enjoy very high subsidies and are exempted from paying taxes (Saunders 1994).
Politics and governance
In regard to its politics and governance, the state of Brunei Darussalam operates under an absolute monarchy. The head of state is the Sultan of Brunei who also passes off as the head of government. He holds executive powers and this means that everything that takes place within the state dose so under his keen eye and authority. This form of leadership has remained so since the country gained its independence but before then, the form of governance was different until the 14th century when it became a Sultanate. Even if this is the case, its economic system evolved through time and space and as of now, it is a capitalist state.
The position of women in society
Despite the fact that this country is built on the foundations of Islam it goes on record that it has given women room to engage in businesses and even seek employment unlike many Islamic countries in the region. Women representation in the legislature is also good because women have been allowed to hold leadership positions in the country. There is a big number of women who are formally and informally employed. Some of them run their private businesses which help them earn a living with which to sustain their livelihoods. Married women are not left out. The Married Women Act (Cap 190) is a clear sign that married women are cushioned in an effort to ensure that they are not left behind (UNDP).
Family life
In regard to family life, the nuclear family is featured most in many family settings. Whenever a couple gets married, they stay at the bride’s home for sometime after which they are left free to move out and be independent. On average, each nuclear family is made up of five members. On the other hand, when it comes to providing for the family, mothers are encouraged to work in order to supplement their husbands’ income. Despite complete families made up of a father, mother and children being advocated for, divorce rates are on the rise with a major contributor being infidelity and financial problems. This fact is also a major contributor to the fact that more women are out there fending for their children therefore making their percentage stand at 60. In the area of family life, the rate of children being born to single mothers stand at 12% and it is at the highest.
Education and medical care
Brunei Darussalam happens to be one of the countries that boast of providing its citizens with free education and medical care. The government spends 2.4% of its GDP on medical care. It is no wonder that life expectancy is very high. The life expectancy indices stand at 78.06 years (World Bank). The doctors are paid well by the government and patients receive free medication. There are government hospitals in all the four districts, two private hospitals and also a referral hospital in the capital. The country also has seen the rise of literacy levels in the last fifty years all thanks to free elementary and high school education. The University Brunei Darussalam on the other hand offers quite a number of courses that the children end up doing. Some of them are awarded scholarships to go and study abroad and upon completion of their studies, they go back home and seek employment there.
Conclusion
It is no doubt that Brunei Darussalam is a very interesting country. Its social, economic and political conditions are thrilling just like its physical location. It is a country that has a rich history of how it came into existence but above all, it is a country that boasts of giving its people a good livelihood regardless of the foundations upon which it’s founded.
Glossary
Capitalism- A situation where a country’s economic system is controlled by individual
Life expectancy- Expected number of years a person can live
GDP- Gross Domestic Profit
Governance- The act of governing a country
Indices- Measure of judgment
Legislature- The organ that makes and changes laws
Literacy- The ability to read and also write
Monarch- A system of governance that entails handing down power from one person to another but within specific confines
Referral hospital- Hospital that provides specialized treatment
Sultanate- Place ruled by a sultan.
References
Brown, D. E. (2006). Brunei: The Structure and History of a Bornean Malay Sultanate. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan
Saunders, G. (1994). A History of Brunei, Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press
The World Bank. Brunei Darussalam. www.worldbank.org. Retrieved on 9th October, 2013. http://data.worldbank.org/country/brunei-darussalam
UNDP. Brunei Darussalam. www.undp.org. retrieved on 9th October, 2013. http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/BRN.html
