ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Brunei. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Brunei. Brunei achieved full independence from Great Britain in 1984. In 1985, the government recognized the moderate Brunei National Democratic Party (PKDB) and, a year later, the offshoot Brunei National Solidarity Party (PPKB). Oil and gas accounts for more than half of Brunei's economic activity and almost 90 percent of its exports, but this natural wealth are rapidly being depleted. Citizens of Brunei lack the democratic means to change their government. There are also plans to build business and industrial centers in border areas Brunei shares with Malaysia and Indonesia.
