Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Content
1-2
Introduction
3-4
Background Of The Monarchy System In Brunei
5-6
Critical Review Of The Case
7-8
Conclusion
9
References
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
This paper aim to study about monarchy system in Brunei and about what Plato and
Aristotle think of monarchy. A monarchy is a country that is ruled by a monarch and monarchy is
this system or form of government. A monarch are such as a king or queen, rules a kingdom or
absolute monarchy, the monarch has unlimited power. Monarchy is an old form of government,
and the word has been around a long time (Shukla, 2007). It derives from Greek monarkhiā, from
monarkhos "monarch." Monarchies are often hereditary, meaning that one family hands down the
office from one generation to the next. While democracy as a form of government first appeared
in ancient Greece, the history of the monarchical form of government is even more ancient.
In the history, monarchical government began around 3000 B.C in the Sumer and Egypt.
The first states were mostly monarchies as far as we can tell and they were ruled by kings or
queens. But is it not the first or early states that have kings and queens. After all there are still
many countries which is still have king and queen until today. Some of the examples of places
There are two type of monarchy, first Absolute monarchy and second is constitutional
monarchy. Absolute monarchy is such monarchical form of government where the monarch has
the power to rule his or her land or the state and their citizens freely. All the people and properties
of the nation is belong to him or her. In an absolute monarchy, there is no constitution or body of
the law above is decreed by the sovereign. As a theory of civics, absolute monarchy puts all trust
in well-bred and well-trained monarchs raised for the role from birth. Current existing absolute
monarchies are Brunei, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland and Vatican City.
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Meanwhile constitutional monarchy it is such a constitutional government where the
monarch is bound by the national constitution. Most of the constitutional monarchies have a
parliamentary system in which the elected king or queen is the head of the government and this
type of monarchy is known as limited monarchy too. Constitutional monarchy begin in Europe
after the France Revolution in 1790s. General Napoleon Bonaparte is considered the first monarch
proclaiming himself as embodiment of the nation, rather than as a divinely-appointed ruler, this
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2.0 BACKGROUND OF MONARCHY SYSTEM IN BRUNEI
Brunei is one of the only two absolute monarchies left in Asia and the other is in Bhutan.
The sultan is descended from a centuries-old royal line or maintained by intermarriage among their
cousins. In Brunei, no political opposition and almost no political activity are allowed. Even
though they did not allow to do political opposition, but Bruneians are proud to have the world’s
oldest reigning monarchy and the only remaining Malay Islamic Monarchy (Hays, 2015).
dispensation of appointments and rewards. For younger Bruneians who have strayed from the path
or who have otherwise been tempted by the fruits of modernization, correct behavior-and indeed,
thought-is carefully spelled out in the form of a national ideology. Brunei has adopted the national
philosophy of the Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja), a system that includes strong
Malay cultural influences, stressing the importance of Islam in daily life and governance, and
respect for the monarchy as represented by His Majesty the Sultan since gaining independence
conventions and to hone different religions. Individuals in Brunei respect the government with
profound veneration and amazement. People in Brunei are exceptionally watchful not to annoy the
sultan. Brunei has lèse majesté laws and it has used them to prosecute insults to imperial relatives.
It is an offense to unveil data about regal family's riches. Bruneians respect the sultan on his
birthday July 15th with celebrations and parades. Brunei monarchy system has the division of
being the oldest unbroken dynasty in the world. The sultanate of Brunei and its Malay sultans have
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been around for around 700 years and it was establish since 13th century when the price from
The Sultan of Brunei is the head of state, incomparable official specialist and outright ruler
of Brunei. He is head of government as Prime Minister. Since freedom from the British in 1984,
just a single Sultan has ruled, however the regal foundation goes back to the fourteenth century.
In 1991, the Sultan presented something many refer to as the Malay Muslim Monarchy which
made the government the safeguard of the Muslim confidence in Brunei. The full title of the Sultan
is: His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
As BBC reports, Brunei, formally named the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace, is a
miniscule nation settled away in the East Asian island of Borneo. Brunei was of little significance
to the outside world, composes Vanity Fair, until the point that the disclosure of massive oil holds
The little country, with a landmass equivalent to that of Delaware, has been represented by
supreme ruler Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah since the country picked up its autonomy in 1968.
Following its fulfillment of political power, Brunei industrialized and increased tremendous riches.
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3.0 CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE CASE
Based on Plato, the best way to from the government is absolute monarchy. He said that a
philosopher king is a true statesman and he would provide everyone his ‘due’. According to Plato,
absolute monarchy is not tyranny because the rule of the philosopher king is on the basic of the
reason and not on appetite. He serves all his subjects on equal footings. He is superior to law
because the law is the recognized form of customs and public opinion that are not too pure while
a philosopher has true wisdom and he is the outcome of the Platonic educational scheme (Farooq,
2013).
The idea of philosopher king was also born in Plato’s dialogue republic as part of the vision
of a just city. Philosopher king is an idea according to which the best form of government is that
in which philosophers rule. It was influential in the Roman Empire and was revived in European
According to Aristotle view, a state with only one ruler is either a monarchy or a tyranny,
a state that have several rulers is either an aristocracy or an oligarchy and lastly a state in which
all ruler is either a polity or a democracy. Although he believed monarchy to be the best in possible
state on principle. Aristotle recognized that in practice it is legally responsible to degenerate into
the worst possible state, a tyranny. Aristotle therefore recommend the formation of policy or
constitutional government, since its degenerate form is the least harmful of the government. As
always, Aristotle defended the mean rather that run the risk of either extreme (Kemerling, 2011).
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Plato considers Monarchy and Aristocracy “essentially the same,” Aristotle being more
realist separates these types by the very empirical question “how many people rule”. So there is
not much difference in quality between how a philosopher king or philosopher kings would rule.
The highest forms are absolute, so anyone tuned in enough will hear the same message, and anyone
wise enough will make the right decisions. more in Plato's terms, this time talking just of the better
than average into timocracy, nobility progresses toward becoming timocracy when (utilizing a
father and child allegory): The refined father energizes the normal piece of his child's spirit. Be
that as it may, the child is impacted by an awful mother and workers, who pull him toward the
affection for cash (theocracy). He winds up in the center, turning into a pleased and respect
cherishing man, a timocratic man. In words, when the blue-blood enables the state to wind up
lopsided by an adoration for respect, riches, freedom, or equity, the refined state plunges to a lower
level.
Aristotle did not just categorize forms of governments by the quantity of people, but also
by quality. For each number, there was a good and bad form. As indicated by Aristotle government
was a decent frame, and oppression was its terrible reporter. Regardless of whether a shape was
great or terrible, is dependent on whether the ruler(s) did pursue the general interest (res publica
in Latin), or their own interests. Those rulers who sought after the general intrigue are, obviously,
the great ones, while the individuals who just sought after their own advantages are the terrible
ones (Mordanicus, 2013). The problem is Greek were facing the fact that a good government could
become corrupted and turn into the bad one. A monarchy system could become a tyranny. Usually
4.0 CONCLUSION
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As a conclusion, although the monarchy system has not been widely practiced by the
countries of the world, Brunei still adheres to it. But I think that an absolute monarchy is not a
good way to lead a country because you do not get enough rights or freedom. Monarchy system
For the good side it can create a solid government because of the singularity of this form
of the government would provide people with an area to attain group of identity and loyalty. Also
it is because there is only one person who is making the decision, so they will be make quickly
with fewer arguments regarding the new laws, regulations and the policies to be imposed. Next
monarchy also can make more saving for the government without the elections. For example in
Brunei, they can reducing a huge amounts of expenses by the country from election because they
just follow their sultan. Monarchy also can encourages suitability for leadership. It was because a
potential successor to the throne is taught the proper ways to rule as early of their life as possible
not like traditional politicians who are only learn about leading a country in their adult years. Also
monarchs would not share the blame once they make the decision like the traditional political do.
For the advantage of the monarchy system, first it may difficult to change the direction of
a country under the monarchy because only one family or one noble group is allows to control the
structure of their country. It also can lead to poor governance because the public do not have the
power to dethrone him or she even if there is not functioning accordingly. Lastly based on the
Aristotle, tyranny id easier to form in the structure of a monarchy. Although tyranny can form
under any structure of government, it is easier to form within the structure of a monarchy. Many
governments attempt to balance the powers of a monarchy between multiple groups, but a ruler
that is determined to be cruel and unreasonable can dictate that all powers funnel through them.
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5.0 REFERENCES
https://sites.google.com/site/monarchyrevival/types-of-monarchy
Shukla G, (November 15, 2007). What is a Monarchy? Retrieved 28 April 2018 from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/monarchy
Jeffrey Hays (June 2015). Monarchy of Brunei. Retrieved from 5 May 2018 from
factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Brunei/sub5_10a/entry-3602.html#
University of California press (1992). Brunei Darussalam in 1992: monarchy, Islam and oil.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosopher-king
Kemerling G, (November 12, 2011). Aristotle: Politic and Art. Retrieved May 5, 2018 from
http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2t.htm
Farooq U (October 2, 2013). A Brief Note on Plato Ideal State Concept. Retrieved May 5, 2018
from http://www.studylecturenotes.com/social-sciences/law/432-a-brief-note-on-plato-ideal-
state-concept
https://republicoflagrangia.org/2013/11/08/what-is-a-monarchy/