Jonah Patel
Monarchy has thrived in several countries in Southeast Asia, blending traditions of kingship from the pre-colonial era with modern forms of constitutional rule. Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia have monarchs as titular heads of state, while Indonesia has forms of monarchy that thrive in a republican context at the regional level. Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia have constitutional monarchies, while Brunei is an absolute monarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Southeast Asian countries that are constitutional monarchies | Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia |
| Number of monarchies in Southeast Asia | 4 remaining |
| Country with an absolute monarchy | Brunei |
| Country with a unique form of monarchy that thrives in a republican context at the regional level | Indonesia |
| Country with a system of elective monarchy | Malaysia |
| Country with a republic that has retained monarchical traditions in some regions | The Philippines |
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What You'll Learn
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. The country was formerly known as Siam and was ruled as an absolute monarchy for over seven centuries before 1932.
The Siamese Revolution in 1932, led by westernized bureaucrats and a tradition-oriented military, resulted in the first written constitution of the country. This event marked the transition of Thailand to a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch relegated to a symbolic role as the head of state. The King of Thailand has little direct power under the constitution but is a symbol of national identity and unity. The Prime Minister, who is the head of the government, is elected by both houses of the National Assembly.
The monarchy in Thailand has been dragged into political conflicts, with the power struggle between the courtly conservative establishment and a populist movement leading to an increase in lèse-majesté cases. The monarchy remains an influential institution, and its role in politics is complex. On the one hand, it provides a platform for people with limited freedom of expression to air their grievances. On the other hand, the power of patronage and legal sanctions protecting the throne can act as an obstacle to free speech.
Thailand's market economy is largely based on services, trade, and light industries, with a significant proportion of the workforce employed in agriculture. The country is a major producer of tungsten and tin and is known for its agricultural products, including rice, corn, rubber, soybeans, and pineapples.
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Malaysia has an elective monarchy
Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, with the present form of its monarchy dating back to 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence. The country's political system is based on the Westminster parliamentary system, with features of a federation. Nine of the states of Malaysia are constitutionally headed by traditional Malay rulers, collectively referred to as the Malay states.
Seven of the nine Malay states are hereditary monarchies based on agnatic primogeniture: Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Perlis, Pahang, Selangor, and Terengganu. In Perak, the throne rotates among three branches of the royal family, based on agnatic seniority. One state, Negeri Sembilan, is an elective monarchy, with the ruler elected from male members of the royal family by hereditary chiefs. The ruler of Negeri Sembilan is known as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, while the rulers of the other states are titled Sultans, except for the ruler of Perlis, who is styled the Raja.
Every five years, or when a vacancy occurs, the nine rulers (excluding minors) convene as the Conference of Rulers to elect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the federal constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong serves a maximum of five years and may not be re-elected until after all the other states have taken their turns. The Conference of Rulers also includes the four Yang di-Pertua Negeris, the ceremonial governors for the four states without rulers, who are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of the states.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and has discretionary powers in appointing the Prime Minister, which has occurred three times since 2020. The federal constitution requires the monarch to act upon the advice of the Prime Minister and cabinet, except in a few cases. The king is allowed to appoint a prime minister who he believes has a parliamentary majority, a power that has been utilised recently due to political shocks and a hung parliament.
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Brunei is an absolute monarchy
Brunei is a small yet oil-rich country in Southeast Asia. It is the only country in Asia that is classified as an absolute monarchy, with the Sultan of Brunei as the absolute monarch and head of state and government. The Sultan is also the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Sultan of Brunei holds absolute power in the state for administrative purposes. As the ruler of Islam, he does not wield all authority by himself. Since 1962, Brunei has been under a state of emergency, which is renewed every two years, and during which the Sultan retains absolute authority. When Brunei gained full independence in 1984, the Sultan became the head of several key government departments, including finance, defence, foreign and home affairs.
The lack of national elections in Brunei limits legitimate political involvement and prevents opposition forces from rising to power. This allows the Sultan to retain his position of power. While social movements offer some avenues for contesting unpopular policies, racial and religious minorities have little chance of getting involved in politics, even locally. Brunei's legal system is based on British common law, with a parallel Syariah law system for Muslims, which takes precedence over common law in areas such as family and property law.
Brunei is one of the few remaining absolute monarchies in the world. It is also the only one in Asia. The country's extensive welfare provisions, funded by high oil revenues, are a means for the regime to maintain control and exercise non-violent political control, as citizens become reliant on the state for employment and social services.
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Cambodia's monarchy is well-liked
Cambodia is one of the few elective monarchies in the world. The king of Cambodia is an elected monarch, chosen by the Royal Council of the Throne, a nine-member constitutional body. The current king, Norodom Sihamoni, has been praised for his gentle touch and for being close to the people. He is a man of simple tastes and has a strong interest in the arts and culture, including ballet, opera, classical music, and traditional Buddhist rituals.
Cambodia's king fulfils a number of roles as the head of state, including presiding over events of national significance, supporting humanitarian and philanthropic causes, and representing Cambodia abroad. He also serves as the Supreme Commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, appoints the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and acts as a "'supreme arbiter' to enable the functioning of state institutions.
While the king has limited political powers and is considered to be 'above politics', some Cambodian opposition figures have called for him to be more directly involved in the country's political issues. However, others have cautioned against this, citing the constitution's emphasis on a ceremonial role for the monarchy.
Cambodia's monarchy is one of the poorest in the world, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen. The king's wealth, or lack thereof, has been rarely referenced publicly by the Prime Minister.
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Indonesia has a unique form of monarchy
Historically, Indonesia was home to various kingdoms and sultanates, such as the Sultanate of Yogyakarta, the Kingdom of Sunda, and the Kingdom of Tabanan in central Bali. The Sultanate of Yogyakarta, officially known as the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, is a Javanese monarchy located in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, which has a unique status within the republic. The sultanate has a long history, dating back to 1755, and played a significant role during the Java War of 1825-1830. During Indonesia's war of independence, the capital of the republic was temporarily moved to the city of Yogyakarta. In 1950, the Sultanate of Yogyakarta, along with the Principality of Pakualaman, became part of Indonesia, with the sultan of Yogyakarta becoming the hereditary governor of the Special Region. The current head of the sultanate, Hamengkubuwono X, ascended to the position in 1998.
In addition to Yogyakarta, there are several other regions in Indonesia with monarchical traditions. For example, the Kingdom of Kutai Kartanegara ing Martadipura in present-day Indonesia was the first Hindu kingdom in the region, founded in the 4th century. Later, in the 15th century, it became a sultanate after the royalties converted to Islam. Another example is the Kingdom of Aceh in northern Sumatra, which was a powerful Islamic state in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Indonesian government has had a complex relationship with these traditional monarchies. While some pre-colonial polities have been restored, with royal titles being nominally recognised, the government has also refused to revive certain monarchies that were abolished during the early years of the republic. Despite this, many dynasties have retained their culture, identity, and status within their own communities, and royal titles are still widely used.
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Frequently asked questions
Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia are constitutional monarchies. Brunei is an absolute monarchy.
Thailand is officially the Kingdom of Thailand and is a constitutional monarchy. The country has experienced political instability and uncertainty, with an ongoing power struggle between the courtly conservative establishment and a populist movement.
Malaysia has a system of elective monarchy, with one of nine traditional rulers serving as the Malaysian king or Yang di-Pertuan Agong on a revolving basis.
While the Philippines is a republic, the Southern Philippines have retained their monarchical traditions and are protected under the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997. Indonesia also has forms of monarchy that thrive within a republican context at the regional level.
