Bahrain's Place In The World: Second Tier?

Bahrain is a small Arab state situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 30 smaller islands. The country's name comes from the Arabic term 'al-baḥrayn', meaning 'two seas'.

Bahrain has a mixed economy, with government control of many basic industries. Petroleum and natural gas are the only significant natural resources. Bahrain was one of the first states in the Gulf to discover oil and build a refinery, but it never reached the production levels of its neighbours, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. As a result, it has had to diversify its economy, investing in communications and transport infrastructure, and working to attract multinational businesses.

Bahrain's GDP of $4.68 billion is heavily dependent on oil and gas, which make up 85% of government revenue and 10% of GDP. The country has the third-smallest economy in Asia, after the Maldives and Singapore.

Bahrain's economy

Bahrain was one of the first states in the Gulf to discover oil and to build a refinery. However, it never reached the production levels of Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. Bahrain's state-owned Alba is one of the world's largest aluminium smelters, and the country has also styled itself as a tourism destination. Bahrain hosts several international sporting events, including a Formula One Grand Prix, and international gatherings such as the annual Manama Dialogue.

Bahrain's GDP in 2024 was USD $4.68 billion. The highest-growing non-oil sectors of the economy are hotels and restaurants, government services, and finance. Bahrain's economy is facing pressure from low oil prices, and the country is seeking new natural gas supplies to support its petrochemical and aluminium industries.

Bahrain's political system

Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the House of Khalifa, a native Arab dynasty that has been in power since the late 18th century. The country's head of state is the king, and the head of government is the prime minister. The current king is Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who acceded to the throne in 1999 and changed his title from emir to king in 2002 when Bahrain became a kingdom. The current prime minister is Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who was appointed by the king.

Bahrain has a bicameral National Assembly, consisting of the Shura Council (also called the Consultative Council) and the Council of Representatives. The Shura Council has 40 members, all of whom are appointed by the king, while the Council of Representatives has 40 members who are elected by absolute majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve four-year terms.

The country's political system has been characterised by tension between the Shia majority and the Sunni rulers, with the Shia majority accusing the ruling Sunni minority of shutting them out of housing, healthcare, and government jobs. This tension has occasionally boiled over into civil disobedience, most notably during the 2011 pro-democracy protests that were inspired by the Arab Spring and were subsequently crushed by the monarchy.

Media in Bahrain is tightly controlled by the state, with the main TV and radio networks being state-run and newspapers following a pro-government editorial line. According to media watchdog Freedom House, legislation is used to detain or jail critical journalists and online activists.

Bahrain's media and censorship

Bahrain's media landscape is primarily made up of weekly and daily newspapers, television, and radio. Newspapers are available in multiple languages, including Arabic, English, and Malayalam, to cater to the country's diverse population. The country's television network operates five channels, all controlled by the Information Affairs Authority. Radio, like television, is mostly state-run and in Arabic. Radio Bahrain is a long-running English-language radio station, and there is also Your FM, which caters to the large expatriate population from the Indian subcontinent.

Bahrain was ranked 162nd out of 180 countries in the 2016 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, and the country is deemed 'Not Free' in terms of Net Freedom and Press Freedom by Freedom House. The Kingdom has been criticised by numerous organisations for its censorship of information and repression of its people, and it has become notorious for jailing journalists.

Constitutional Laws Regarding Censorship

Bahrain's constitution outlines freedoms of expression, press, and telecommunications in Articles 23–26. Article 23 states that citizens are "free to express their opinion and publish it… provided it does not violate the fundamentals of the Islamic faith or the unity of the country and does not provoke sectarianism or communalism." Article 24 claims that "freedom of press, printing, and publishing is guaranteed." Article 26 guarantees the "freedom to use postal correspondence, telegraph, and telephone" and their secrecy, except in cases stated by law.

Many journalists argue that these clauses are open to interpretation and that, in practice, these rights are not upheld. Since the 2011 uprisings and demonstrations against the current regime, the government has responded with increased repression and harsher censorship measures for dissidents. Authorities have employed various repressive tactics, including secret trials, arrests, torture, and revocation of citizenship.

Internet Censorship

Bahrain continues to block a large number of local opposition websites, as well as social content such as sex and nudity, and privacy protection services. The government maintains control over the internet by requiring all websites to register with the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) and indirectly controlling Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through the Telecommunications Regulation Authority (TRA). A resolution issued in January 2009 requires all ISPs to install website-blocking software chosen by the Ministry. The IAA and select ministries can decide to block certain websites, which is then enforced by the ISP.

Media Outlets and Self-Censorship

All major newspaper outlets within Bahrain are heavily influenced by the government, except for Al-Wasat, whose headquarters was attacked by a pro-government mob. Pro-government media have allegedly engaged in presenting misinformation, and self-censorship is common, as many newspapers choose not to cover political or controversial subjects.

The Bahrain News Agency, the major national news broadcaster, is state-owned, and six out of seven daily newspapers are pro-government. The government controls all media outlets and publications through the Ministry of Information Affairs, whose head is appointed by royal decree.

Laws and Regulations

Bahrain's media landscape is heavily regulated by restrictive laws and regulations. The Press and Publication Law of 2002 has been criticised as repressive, prohibiting any publications against the regime in power, averse to the state's official religion, breaching ethics, or jeopardising public peace. The Bahrain Penal Code stipulates dozens of legal provisions that restrict the right to freedom of expression and set forth harsh penalties for violators.

Journalists and Dissidents

Numerous journalists have been jailed under arbitrary causes, particularly during the 2011 uprisings. Photographers Ahmed Humaidan and Sayed Ahmed Al Mousawi, as well as blogger Nabeel Rajab, are among those who have been arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

International Response

Reporters Without Borders and other organisations are campaigning for the release of imprisoned journalists. In 2011, Reporters Without Borders reported that the Information Affairs Authority blocked and shut down more than 1,000 websites, including human rights websites, blogs, and online forums. Amnesty International has stated that, a decade after Bahrain's popular uprising, "systemic injustice has intensified, and political repression targeting dissidents, human rights defenders, clerics, and independent civil society have effectively shut any space for the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression or peaceful activism."

Bahrain's history

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in the Persian Gulf. It is situated on the Persian Gulf and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centred on Bahrain Island, which makes up around 83% of the country's landmass. Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni king, whose family holds the main political and military posts. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.

Ancient History

Bahrain is the site of the ancient Dilmun civilisation, which was famed for its pearl fisheries. Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to be influenced by Islam, during the lifetime of Muhammad in 628 AD. Following a period of Arab rule, Bahrain was ruled by the Portuguese Empire from 1521 until 1602, when they were expelled by Shah Abbas the Great of Safavid Iran. In 1783, the Bani Utbah and allied tribes captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur, and it has since been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family, with Ahmed al-Fateh as Bahrain's first hakim.

British Rule and Independence

In the late 1800s, following successive treaties with the British, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. During this time, Bahrain was invaded by the Omanis and the Al Sauds. In 1861, Britain assumed responsibility for Bahrain's defence and foreign relations. In 1913, Britain and the Ottoman government signed a treaty recognising Bahrain's independence, but the country remained under British administration. In 1931, the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California, discovered oil at Jabal al-Dukhan, and production began the following year. In 1967, Britain moved its main regional naval base from Aden to Bahrain, and a year later, it decided to close all its bases east of Suez by 1971.

Post-Independence

In 1970, Iran under the Shah renounced its claims to Bahrain, but the successor Islamic Republic of Iran did not recognise this renunciation. On 15 August 1971, Bahrain declared independence and signed a new treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom. Sheikh Isa became the first emir, and the council of state became a cabinet. In 1981, Bahrain joined the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which also includes Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In 1986, the King Fahd Causeway was opened, linking Bahrain to the mainland of Saudi Arabia. In 1991, Bahrain signed a defence cooperation agreement with the United States, providing for port facilities and joint military exercises.

21st Century

In 2001, Bahrain held a referendum on political reform, which resulted in Bahrain becoming a constitutional monarchy with an elected lower chamber of parliament and an independent judiciary. In 2011, protesters gathered in Manama, inspired by the popular revolts that toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt. This protest movement was crushed by the monarchy, which subsequently eliminated a broad range of political rights and civil liberties. In 2018, Bahrain reported the discovery of its largest oil field in more than 80 years. In 2020, Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords with Israel, establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Bahrain's demographics

The population of Bahrain is around 1.6 million, with the majority living in the two principal cities of Manama and Al Muharraq. Bahrain is a small country, with a total land area of 760 square kilometres. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and around 30 smaller islands.

Bahrain is ethnically diverse, with roughly half of the population being Arab, and most inhabitants native-born Bahrainis. However, there are also Palestinians, Omanis, Saudis, and foreign-born inhabitants, who make up more than half of the population. The largest groups of immigrants are from South and Southeast Asia, with around 350,000 Indians, 150,000 Bangladeshis, and 110,000 Pakistanis living in the country, according to government statistics from 2005-2012. There are also smaller numbers of people from the UK, the US, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

The official language of Bahrain is Arabic, but English is widely spoken, and is taught as a compulsory second language in schools. Other languages spoken include Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and Tagalog.

Islam is the official religion, forming around 74% of the population. The country is majority Shia, which is unusual in the Middle East. Census data does not differentiate between other religions, but it is estimated that around 12% of the population is Christian, and there are around 40 Jewish citizens.

Bahrain has a high population density of 2,115 people per square kilometre, and the median age is 33.2 years.

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