<p>The <i>Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Brunei</i> presents an overview of significant themes, issues, and challenges pertinent to Brunei Darussalam in the twenty-first century. Multidisciplinary in coverage, the contributions cover topics relating to philology, history, religion, language and literature, geography, international relations, economics, politics and sociocultural traditions. </p><p>The Handbook is structured in eight parts: </p><p>Foundations</p><p>History</p><p>Faith and Ethnicity</p><p>Literature</p><p>Language and Education</p><p>Economics</p><p>Material Culture</p><p>Empowerment </p><p>Chapters focus on the recent past and contemporary developments in this unique country which has remained a Malay Muslim sultanate, sustaining its religious and traditional heritage encapsulated in the national philosophy, <em>Melayu Islam Beraja</em> (MIB, Malay Islamic Monarchy). The MIB philosophy represents the sultanate’s three pillars of social, cultural, political and economic sustainability, and the contributors discuss this concept in relation to the notion of ‘Malay’ or ‘Malaydom’, the official religion of the nation-state, Islam and monarchy as the essential system of government. This Handbook is an invaluable reference work for students of Asian and Southeast Asian Studies and researchers interested in what is demographically the smallest country within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).</p> <p>1. Brunei’s Concerns <i>Victor T. KING and OOI Keat Gin</i> I FOUNDATIONS 2. Monarchy in Brunei: Past, Present, and Future <i>OOI Keat Gin</i> 3. Brunei and the World since 1984 <i>Stephen C. DRUCE and ASIYAH AZ-ZAHRA Ahmad Kumpoh</i> 4. Demography of Brunei <i>NORAINIE Ahmad</i> II HISTORY 5. How Boni became Borneo became Brunei <i>Johannes L. KURZ</i> 6. Contextualizing the History of Brunei <i>Stephen C. DRUCE and NANI SURYANI Haji Abu Bakar</i> 7. Brunei Historiography <i>ASIYAH AZ-ZAHRA Ahmad Kumpoh, Stephen C. DRUCE, and NANI SURYANI Haji Abu Bakar 8. </i>Migration from Water to Land: A Study of Brunei’s Kampong Ayer Residents from circa 1906 to 1941 <i>Haji TASSIM Haji Abu Bakar</i> III FAITH AND ETHNICITY 9. Islam in Brunei Darussalam (1368 -2017): Changes and Challenges <i>Haji Awg ASBOL bin Haji Mail</i> 10. Addressing Ethnic Complexity and Ethnic Change in Brunei Darussalam <i>Victor T. KING</i> IV LITERATURE 11. An Overview of Bruneian Literature: History, Historiography, and Critical Approaches (Parts I and II) <i>Ampuan Hj BRAHIM bin Ampuan Hj Tengah and KATHRINA Mohd Daud</i> 12. Gender and Sexuality in Bruneian Writings in English <i>Grace V. S. CHIN</i> V LANGUAGE AND EDUCATION 13. Language, Society, and Change in Brunei Darussalam <i>NOOR AZAM Haji-Othman and James McLELLAN</i> 14. Brunei Darussalam National Education Policies: Transformation and Challenges <i>Haji Awg ASBOL bin Haji Mail, Ampuan Hj BRAHIM bin Ampuan Hj Tengah, and Haji TASSIM Haji Abu Bakar</i> VI ECONOMICS 15. The Economic and Social Progress of Brunei Darussalam <i>ROSLEE Baha and HARTINI Mohammad Yussof</i> 16. Fiscal Policy Challenges in Brunei Darussalam <i>Wee Chian KOH</i> 17. ASEAN Economic Community: Regional and Economic Integration of Brunei <i>Siti Fatimahwati Pehin Dato MUSA and KHAIRUL HIDAYATULLAH Basir</i> VII MATERIAL CULTURE 18. Tawhidic Worldview and Islamic Aesthetics in the Art of Bruneian <i>Tenun</i> <i>Ampuan Hj BRAHIM bin Ampuan Hj Tengah, Pengiran Hajah SITI NORAINNA Pengiran Haji Besar, and Dayangku Nurul FATEN NAZURAH binti Pengiran Zul Amli </i>VIII EMPOWERMENT 19. Women Empowerment in Brunei Darussalam <i>NORAINIE Ahmad, KHAIRUNNISA Hj Ibrahim and NORHAZLIN Muhammad</i> 20. Culture of Volunteerism: An Overview of Youth Participation in NGOs and Youth-led Platforms in Brunei Darussalam <i>ABDUL HAI Julay and Siti Mazidah MOHAMAD</i></p>