The situation in the Middle East keeps getting worse, like a bad math equation that will not balance itself out. After Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in Egypt, so-called democratic revolutions struck Libya and Yemen. Now it is Bahrain’s turn. But before we muster up another dollop of heart-felt compassion for the people of Bahrain, we should ponder why and where the equation has gone wrong. An Egypt-style mass revolution is not necessarily the solution.
The argument from the people of Bahrain seems to revolve around the same “pro-democracy and down with the current administration” rhetoric that has filled a few nations in the neighborhood recently. This outcry is not really surprising when you consider what the administration in Bahrain looks like.
According to the BBC, Bahrain’s King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah has been the all-powerful entity since 1999. He controls the parliament and elects members to the Upper House – including the prime minister, who has remained in power since 1971. All this is evidence enough that Bahrain is really a pseudo-democracy, which is not something that any population would choose to endure for too long.
While seemingly ripe for its own revolution, Bahrain and Egypt’s protests are far removed from each other.
Firstly, looking at the economics of the island nation, it is easy to rule out that economic development is the problem right now. The per capita GDP of Bahrain is $25,420, according to 2009 World Bank statistics, a figure comparable to many developed countries. On the other hand, per capita GDP of Egypt hovers around the $2,000 mark and 40 percent of Egyptians live on the poverty line, earning just $2 a day while Mubarak was raking in billions.
Secondly, the difference between toppling a single dictator in Egypt and a monarchy in power since 1783 in Bahrain, which has complete control over the administration, is vast. In Egypt’s case, the military was determined to protect the citizens from violent clashes with the Egyptian police. But being a monarchy, the Bahrain King sent out an absolute message to the people protesting in Pearl Square on Feb. 17 – go home or perish. Unlike Mubarak, he has the backing of the military.
Lastly, the crux of the uprising is deciphered by reading between the lines; an old religious rift which has time and again raised its rather inconvenient head. It revolves around the clash between the two Muslim sects – Shia and Sunni, which has gone on for a few hundred years. The majority of Bahrain’s population are Shiite who are ruled over by a minority Sunni regime – a fact which is reflected in Saudi Arabia’s soft spot toward Bahrain. The popular belief in the administration also seems to be that Iran is fueling the fervor on the streets of Bahrain. Of course, this notion stems from the fact that Iran has a Shia regime. It is speculation at its best.
Self-flagellation by the common person is hardly the answer to an administrative problem. Bahrain has been a prosperous nation for a while now. The absolute last thing it needs is a religious-based wound opening up for radical opportunists to take advantage of. The need of the hour is for both the people and regime of Bahrain to maintain peace and hopefully put an end to any further violent clashes. They need to take the lead and show the proper way forward for other nations to follow.