Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in Bahrain

This investigation identifies the different elements in Bahraini society and government that indicate the existence of authoritarian rule and the mechanisms which perpetuate it. Hardliners in the royal family have strategically obstructed democratization in the country by controlling Bahrain's...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nebil Husayn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pluto Journals 2015-01-01
Series:Arab Studies Quarterly
Online Access:https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/arabstudquar.37.1.0033
_version_ 1797687396470358016
author Nebil Husayn
author_facet Nebil Husayn
author_sort Nebil Husayn
collection DOAJ
description This investigation identifies the different elements in Bahraini society and government that indicate the existence of authoritarian rule and the mechanisms which perpetuate it. Hardliners in the royal family have strategically obstructed democratization in the country by controlling Bahrain's ideological and coercive state apparatus. The ideological apparatus encourages public disavowal of political reform and marginalizing Bahrain's Shī'ī heritage. The coercive state apparatus regularly punishes, imprisons, and physically abuses political activists and those who are suspected of encouraging civil unrest. Bahrain's alliance with Saudi Arabia has encouraged hardliners in the government to particularly promote anti-Shī'ī agendas that stigmatize, disenfranchise, and repress the majority of its citizens. Representatives of the Bahraini government have consistently accused Iran of providing logistical support to Bahraini activists. However, evidence suggests the claims of Iranian involvement in the 2011 demonstrations or an alleged coup attempt in 1981 to be false. Finally, this article identifies developments in 2011, both inside and outside of the country, that encouraged the reduction of repression of its citizens.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T01:18:29Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5e3e433fb3564dddb9baac025057d182
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0271-3519
2043-6920
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T01:18:29Z
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Pluto Journals
record_format Article
series Arab Studies Quarterly
spelling doaj.art-5e3e433fb3564dddb9baac025057d1822023-09-13T10:24:16ZengPluto JournalsArab Studies Quarterly0271-35192043-69202015-01-01371335310.13169/arabstudquar.37.1.0033Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in BahrainNebil HusaynThis investigation identifies the different elements in Bahraini society and government that indicate the existence of authoritarian rule and the mechanisms which perpetuate it. Hardliners in the royal family have strategically obstructed democratization in the country by controlling Bahrain's ideological and coercive state apparatus. The ideological apparatus encourages public disavowal of political reform and marginalizing Bahrain's Shī'ī heritage. The coercive state apparatus regularly punishes, imprisons, and physically abuses political activists and those who are suspected of encouraging civil unrest. Bahrain's alliance with Saudi Arabia has encouraged hardliners in the government to particularly promote anti-Shī'ī agendas that stigmatize, disenfranchise, and repress the majority of its citizens. Representatives of the Bahraini government have consistently accused Iran of providing logistical support to Bahraini activists. However, evidence suggests the claims of Iranian involvement in the 2011 demonstrations or an alleged coup attempt in 1981 to be false. Finally, this article identifies developments in 2011, both inside and outside of the country, that encouraged the reduction of repression of its citizens.https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/arabstudquar.37.1.0033
spellingShingle Nebil Husayn
Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in Bahrain
Arab Studies Quarterly
title Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in Bahrain
title_full Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in Bahrain
title_fullStr Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in Bahrain
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in Bahrain
title_short Mechanisms of Authoritarian Rule in Bahrain
title_sort mechanisms of authoritarian rule in bahrain
url https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/arabstudquar.37.1.0033
work_keys_str_mv AT nebilhusayn mechanismsofauthoritarianruleinbahrain