BRUNEI
— Officially: Negara Brunei Darussalam.
— Seat of government: Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan).
— Status: Not democratic.
— Structure: Absolute monarchy controlled by the sultan.
— Head of government: Hassanal Bolkiah, sultan (since 1967).
— Assessment: A traditional monarchy, whose head claims enormous personal wealth belonging in fact to the public. Fully independent only since 1984.
— FH: 6-5, not free.
— Updated: 2007 December 17.
O.T. FORD