Nation Profile -- Brunei

This little country in the heart of Malasia is an example of recent booming development in former third-world countries. Far ahead in industry and exports, Brunei is not only one of the richest countries among its peers, but in the world as a whole. This wealth has lead to them taking an isolationist approach among their neighbors, with heavily-guarded borders. This, along with a short border war with Malasia that reunified Brunei, had lead to them being widely disliked among their neighbors.

This isolation also means Brunei has yet to join the UN. Though they’ve been approached several times with offers to join the global body, they consider the imposition on their national sovereignty, along with the potential of being involved in global conflicts too undesirable to break their isolation.

Of course, when people aren’t talking about Brunei’s wealth, they’re talking about the nation’s draconian outlook on Quirks. Early in the 2040s, the ruling party of Brunei lead a campaign to declare Quirks a “existential threat” to the social order that had brought them such recent prosperity. Currently, Quirk use is considered a criminal offense. Mutations aren’t outlawed, but often face persecution nonetheless. This phobia has even taken a religious bent, with local faith leaders claiming that Quirk use “stains the soul,” and denies passage to heaven.

This large-scale persecution has resulted in a tide of refugees to the neighboring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia, quirkers and relatives of quirkers fleeing the military police. A vibrant vigilante scene in Brunei has appeared as well, mostly focused on fighting the military police, and smuggling quirkers to safety.

As many people leave, however, there are always more to replace them--the prospect of a job in Brunei’s endless factories and shipyards is too alluring to the poor of nearby nations to refuse. As long as you lack a quirk, and are willing to tolerate brutal working conditions, Brunei has a job for you.

(Contributed by Rosey)