Bahrain's Revolt: The Clash between the Domestic and the International

Though the situation in Bahrain remains volatile, with unclear results of the demonstrations, these events will likely have a significant effect on the future direction of the Gulf.

by Yazan Al-Saadi

As protests continue to sweep across the region, large-scale demonstrations in the Shiite majority Gulf state of Bahrain represent a serious, direct challenge to the more than 200-year rule of the country’s ruling Sunni Al-Khalifa family. Sparked by the recent upheavals and revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, and fueled by domestic discontent, the protests have forced Bahrain’s ruling family to acknowledge the changing socio-political face of the region and its implications for Bahrain’s future. Should Bahrain’s protesters, who are struggling for their political, social and economic rights, ultimately be unsuccessful in attaining their demands, they will have nonetheless set a new tone for political and civic engagement not only in Bahrain, but also in the oil-rich Gulf states, which many have believed to be immune to the current political upheavals in the region. In light of the Bahraini demonstrations, ruling families across the Gulf must realize that the doling out of cash payments to their citizens in insufficient to stave off domestic discontent. Rather, Bahrain has forced the Gulf nations to undergo significant policy changes that embrace a more progressive agenda, without which the long-term stability and prosperity of these countries will remain questionable.