Sovereign spectacles: Absolutism and architecture in the urban development of Brunei

This article examines Brunei, the sole absolutist monarchy in Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific, as a case study of how monarchies influence urban design and development. Under Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s absolutist rule (r. 1967–present), the state has exercised dominant control over the construction and configuration of public spaces. Through detailed analysis of key elements of Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan, this article demonstrates how the Sultan and the ruling class have materialised royal hegemony in urban form. By centring the tenets of Melayu Islam Beraja (Malay Islamic Monarchy) in such developments, the regime has cultivated a national identity rooted in monarchical authority rather than popular sovereignty. Employing the concept of the ‘spectacle’ – a social relation mediated by shared imageries – this study analyses how the urban fabric of Brunei expresses a sovereignty anchored in Malay cultural practices, Islamic values and royal kingship, so solidifying the Bruneian monarchy’s unique foundation amidst democratic tides of the region.