Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy
Abstract
The uprising that began in Bahrain on February 14, 2011, at the outbreak of the uprisings that swept several Middle Eastern leaders from power, began a political crisis that has defied resolution. The crisis since 2011 has been more intense than previous periods of unrest in Bahrain, and demonstrates that the grievances of the Shiite majority over the distribution of power and economic opportunities have not been satisfied by reform efforts instituted since 1999. The bulk of the Shiite majority in Bahrain says it demands a constitutional monarchy in which an elected parliament produces the government, but many in the Sunni minority government of the Al Khalifa family believe the Shiites want outright rule. In March 2011, Bahrain's government rejected U.S. advice by inviting direct security assistance from other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, declaring a state of emergency, forcefully suppressing demonstrations, and arresting dissident leaders and pro-opposition health care workers. Although the state of emergency ended on June 1, 2011, a "national dialogue" held in July 2011 reached consensus on only a few modest political reforms. Hopes for resolution were raised by a pivotal report by a government-appointed "Independent Commission of Inquiry" (BICI) on the unrest, released November 23, 2011, which was critical of the government's actions against the unrest as well as the opposition's dismissal of all of the government's reform proposals. The government asserts it has implemented most of the BICI recommendations, however, the upholding of prison sentences for prominent dissidents and government refusal to agree to more substantial political reforms have stoked continued frequent demonstrations. The Obama Administration has not called for an end to the Al Khalifa regime's past reforms, but it has criticized the regime's human rights abuses, urged the regime to undertake further political reform, and advanced ideas to narrow government-opposition differences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 06, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA584633
Entities
People
- Kenneth Katzman
Organizations
- Library of Congress