bahrain: the crux of antiquity and modernity
TRANSCRIPT
The Crux of Antiquity and Modernity
BAHRAIN
Location: Bahrain is located off the North East coast of Saudi Arabia.
Capitol: ManamaPopulation: 1.2 Million people.
BAHRAIN’S PLACE IN THE WORLD
Part of a group of 33 islands, near both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The island consists mostly of desert plains, with steep cliff s of rock in the center of the island.
No rivers or streams.Two seasons of note:
Sweltering Summers (116 degrees Fahrenheit) Mild Winters (60 degrees Fahrenheit)
GEOGRAPHY
Largest Exports: Petroleum Aluminium Financial and Construction Materials.
Freest economy among Middle East nations. Islamic banking standard."Bahrain levies no taxes on individual income. Oil
companies must pay a 46 percent corporate income tax, but most other businesses are exempt from taxation…” (Heritage.org)
ECONOMICS
Monarchy: The Khalifa family has ruled since 1783. Independent nation since 1971 (separated from Great
Britain)Sunni aristocracy, Shia majority.Small population, government pays for nearly
everything.Shia-Sunni confl icts and tension.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
80% of all land is owned by the royal family.US Naval Base at Juff air, Bahrain. (5miles South of
Manama) ~1,200 US Citizens house in on-base residences.
BAHRAIN IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Political upheaval.Use of undue force by Government- Tear Gas and
denial of medical intervention.
21ST CENTURY CONTINUED
Islam- 70% of the population is Shia, while 15% is Sunni. Remaining 15% are predominately Christian, along with
smaller numbers of Hindus and other ideological groups.
RELIGION
Food: Machbous- A well known dish of seasoned fish/meat with
rice. Samosas- Popular breaded pockets filled with meat and
cheese, or sugar and nuts.Sports:
Football (Soccer, for you Americans) is the most famous and popular sport in Bahrain, followed by Formula 1 racing.
Other common sports include; golf, scuba diving, equestrian, and falconry.
Stars Hind (a singer), Jaycee (a famous footballer), Ali Salman, (a
popular Islamist), and Zainab Al Askari (actor) are among Bahrain’s famous.
POPULAR CULTURE
*Constitutional* Monarchy- Constitution adopted Feb. 14, 2002. Reigning monarch: Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa
The monarch’s cabinet is chosen by the monarch…Furthermore, 50% of the Bahrain National Assembly
representatives are chosen by the monarch…Al-Khalifa family is staunchly Sunni, while the vast
majority of the population identify as Shia.
POLITICS
By no means is Bahrain lacking in modernity…Rapidly expanding Telecommunications sector.
Bahrain is home to the Bahrain Polytechnic Institute and a campus for the New York Institute of Technology.
Middle Eastern and North African telecom giant- Batelco
TECHNOLOGY
Activists: Nabeel Rajab- President of Bahrain Center for Human
Rights. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja- Co-founder and former president of
BCHR. Zainab and Maryam Alkhawaja- Daughters of Abdulhadi,
prominent rights activists.Groups:
Al-Wefaq- A Shiite group, and Largest Bahraini political party (still outvoted by the monarch’s assembly).
February 14th Movement- Social media based youth opposition movement.
The Al-Khalifas- Bahrain’s ruling family.
KEY PLAYERS IN BAHRAIN’S SPRING
1979 Islamic Revolution in IranSunni rulers in Bahrain were afraid of similar
revolution.Bahraini allies- Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Both Sunni majority countries put pressure on the Khalifas to maintain control.
Sunni leadership had been unwilling to cede reasonable political clout to the Shia majority population.
This lack of power has caused many Shia populations within Bahrain to become unemployed, impoverished or both.
LONG TERM CAUSES OF BAHRAIN’S SPRING
The constitution adopted in 2002- All power rests with monarch and his chosen inner circle. 70% of the population (Shia Muslims) without fair
representation.
Simply put: The king maintained all power. The people demanded their fair say in their country’s
affairs.
SHORT TERM CAUSES OF THE SPRING
"Bahrain and the Arab Spring." Issue #92. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://isreview.org/issue/82/bahrain-and-arab-spring>.
"Bahrain." Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.heritage.org/index/country/bahrain>.
"Geography and Map of Bahrain." Geography and Map of Bahrain. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcbahrain.htm>.
"Geography of Bahrain." Princeton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Geography_of_Bahrain.html>.
CITED WORKS
"Bahrain." Central Intelligence Agency . Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
Henderson, Simon. "Royal Rivalry: Bahrain's Ruling Family and the Island's Political Crisis."Policy Watch 2198. The Washington Institute, 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2014
Bronner, Ethan, and Michael Slackman. "Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest." The New York Time. The New York Time, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
"Bahraini celebrities." List of. Lucy Who?, n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. <http://lists.lucywho.com/bahraini-celebrities-c19256546.html>.
WORKS CITED CONTINUED
Ceralvo, Bianca . "An Abridged Guide to Key Players in the Bahrain Uprising | Link TV." An Abridged Guide to Key Players in the Bahrain Uprising | Link TV . Link TV, 27 July 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. <http://www.linktv.org/mosaic/blog/post/1241/an-abridged-guide-to-key-players-in-the-bahrain-uprising>.
"Countries and Their Cultures." Culture of Bahrain . N.p.,
n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. <http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Bahrain.html>.
"Sport." Sport. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.onebahrainhospitality.com/Explore-Bahrain/Sport.html>.
WORKS CITED (LAST PAGE