Damon Mcknight
Bahrain, a small Middle Eastern country, has been accused of corruption and human rights abuses in recent years. The country's handling of corruption has been called into question, with a notable rise in corruption following the violent suppression of the 2011 Arab Spring protests. Bahrain's position on the Corruption Perceptions Index has dropped, and while the country has taken steps to improve its ranking, there are still concerns about the government's commitment to transparency and accountability. Incidents of fraud and corruption, such as the Alcoa-Alba case, have further fueled these concerns. The Bahraini government's crackdown on opposition groups and censorship of independent media have also raised alarms about the state of democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
What You'll Learn
Bahrain's score on the Corruption Perceptions Index
In the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Bahrain's score remained at 42, ranking it 76th out of 180 countries. While this score is slightly better than the average score of 34 for Middle Eastern and North African countries, it still indicates room for improvement in combating public sector corruption. Bahrain's score of 42 is also notably lower than the highest score among its regional peers, which stood at 68.
The country's ranking of 76th out of 180 places it in the lower half of the index, suggesting that there is a perceived level of public sector corruption in Bahrain. However, it is important to note that the index measures perception and may not reflect the exact level of corruption present in a country's public sector.
Bahrain has taken steps to address corruption, including becoming a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in 2010. Additionally, organisations like the Bahrain Transparency Association work towards improving transparency and reducing corruption in the country. Despite these efforts, reports suggest that a dysfunctional approach to fighting corruption has undermined progress in recent years.
Drone Flying in Bahrain: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
The rise of corruption in Bahrain
Bahrain has been facing an increase in corruption, particularly after the violent suppression of the 2011 Arab Spring protests. The country's ranking in addressing corruption has dropped significantly, and it now faces challenges in both the private and public sectors.
Pre-2011
Before the 2011 protests, Bahrain had a moderate corruption score of 51 out of 100, with a ranking of 46 out of 180 countries. The country was seen as having reasonably low and manageable levels of corruption.
Post-2011
Following the government's crackdown on opposition societies after the 2011 protests, Bahrain has witnessed a notable rise in corruption. As of 2018, its corruption score had dropped to 36, and its ranking fell to 99 out of 180 countries. This decline can be attributed to the government's actions in censoring critical newspapers, imprisoning activists, and dissolving opposition groups, effectively removing checks and balances on corruption.
Private sector corruption
One notable case of private sector corruption involved the American Aluminum company, Alcoa Inc. In 2014, the company was charged with bribery by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) due to its dealings with smelters in Bahrain. The investigation revealed that Alcoa Inc. had bribed Bahraini officials, including members of the royal family, with approximately $110 million over several years. This case highlighted the high levels of corruption present in Bahrain's private sector.
Public sector corruption
The majority of corruption in Bahrain's public sector stems from government elites. With no opposition groups to hold them accountable, these elites have seized the opportunity to increase their personal standing. Led by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman AlKhalifa, members of the royal family have prevented attempts to implement anti-corruption methods, which many believe is an effort to hide their involvement in corrupt practices. Despite some officials being questioned, none have faced corruption charges or been brought to court as of 2018.
National Audit Court (NAC)
One of the tools to fight corruption in Bahrain is the National Audit Court (NAC), established by the king in 2002. However, due to interference from government elites, the NAC has been stripped of its enforcement powers and is not permitted to investigate certain cases, such as the Alcoa Inc. scandal. This has further hindered the country's ability to effectively address corruption.
Signs of improvement
Despite the challenges, there are signs that Bahrain is taking steps to tackle corruption. From 2017 to 2018, the country's ranking in handling corruption improved from 133 to 99. This improvement can be attributed to updates in the penal code, increasing penalties for bribery and extending the jurisdiction of Bahraini courts to try offenders engaged in "international projects" abroad. Additionally, Crown Prince Salman has pushed for cases of suspected corruption to be brought to trial, particularly focusing on the country's flour mill companies. These efforts provide a glimmer of hope for meaningful progress in addressing corruption in Bahrain.
Exploring Bahrain's Unique Country Code: Unveiling the Mystery
You may want to see also
Corruption in the public sector
Bahrain's public sector has been marred by corruption, with the country scoring 42 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2023, ranking 76th out of 180 countries. This score indicates a perception of moderately low public sector honesty. The country's handling of corruption has deteriorated since 2011, when peaceful Arab Spring protests were violently suppressed, leading to a rise in corruption.
The Bahraini government's crackdown on opposition societies following the 2011 protests has been a significant contributor to the increase in corruption. By censoring critical newspapers, imprisoning activists, and dissolving opposition groups, the government removed watch-dog organisations that typically maintain stable levels of corruption. As a result, Bahrain has witnessed a rapid rise in corruption across both the private and public sectors.
Within the public sector, a large proportion of corruption stems from government elites. Led by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman AlKhalifa, members of the royal family have been accused of preventing the implementation of anti-corruption methods, possibly to hide their involvement in corrupt practices. Despite some officials being questioned, none have faced corruption charges or been brought to court as of 2018.
The National Audit Court (NAC), established in 2002 to combat corruption, has been ineffective due to meddling by elites. The organisation has been stripped of its enforcement powers and is not permitted to investigate certain cases, such as the Alcoa Inc. scandal, where the American company bribed Bahraini officials, including members of the royal family.
However, there are signs of positive change. Crown Prince Salman has pushed for cases mentioned in the NAC's report to be brought to trial, focusing on the country's flour mill companies. By empowering the NAC to pursue corruption cases, Bahrain can make significant progress in addressing corruption in both the private and public sectors.
Additionally, the government has taken steps to increase penalties for bribery and expand the jurisdiction of Bahraini courts to try offenders involved in "international projects" abroad. These efforts, along with the potential reintroduction of opposition societies and independent media outlets, could help curb corruption and hold corrupt elites accountable.
Argan Oil Shopping: Bahrain Edition
You may want to see also
Corruption in the private sector
Bahrain has a score of 42 in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 76th out of 180 countries. While this score is higher than the average for Middle Eastern and North African countries, it still indicates room for improvement in addressing corruption.
One notable case of corruption in Bahrain's private sector involved the American Aluminum company, Alcoa Inc. In 2014, the company was charged with bribery by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) due to its dealings with smelters in Bahrain. The SEC investigation revealed that Alcoa Inc. had bribed Bahraini officials, including members of the royal family, with approximately $110 million over several years. This case highlighted the high levels of corruption present in Bahrain's private sector.
The Bahraini government's suppression of political opposition and independent media following the 2011 protests has also contributed to the rise of corruption in the country. With no "watchdog" organizations in place, corruption has flourished in both the private and public sectors.
To combat corruption, Bahrain updated its penal code in 2018 to increase penalties for bribery and expand the jurisdiction of its courts to try offenders involved in "international projects" abroad. Additionally, Crown Prince Salman has pushed for cases of suspected corruption to be brought to trial, particularly focusing on the country's flour mill companies. These efforts indicate a willingness to address corruption in both the private and public sectors.
However, to effectively tackle corruption, Bahrain should reintroduce opposition societies and independent media outlets, as well as release political prisoners. By doing so, the country can increase accountability and restore stability to its corruption levels.
Urban Bahrain: Understanding the Country's Unique Landscape
You may want to see also
Anti-corruption efforts
Bahrain has been a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption since 2010, having signed it in 2005. The country has also established a National Audit Court (NAC) to combat corruption and enforce laws. However, these efforts have been hampered by elite interference, particularly from members of the royal family, who have prevented attempts to implement anti-corruption methods.
In 2024, Bahrain scored 42 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 76th out of 180 countries. This score is slightly above the average score of 43 and higher than the average score of 34 for Middle Eastern and North African countries. However, Bahrain's score has decreased by 2 points since the previous year, indicating a decline in anti-corruption efforts and a loss of public trust.
To improve its anti-corruption measures, Bahrain updated its penal code in January 2018 to increase penalties for bribery and extend the jurisdiction of its courts to try offenders engaged in "international projects" abroad. These changes target employees and public officials and aim to increase accountability. Additionally, Crown Prince Salman has pushed for cases mentioned in the NAC's report to be brought to trial, focusing on the country's flour mill companies.
Despite these efforts, Bahrain continues to face challenges in effectively combating corruption. The country's approach to fighting corruption has been described as dysfunctional, undermining progress and impairing good governance. The suppression of political opposition and independent media outlets has also hindered anti-corruption efforts, as these groups typically play a crucial role in holding governments accountable.
To make meaningful progress, Bahrain may need to reintroduce opposition societies and independent media outlets, as well as release political prisoners. By increasing transparency and accountability, Bahrain can work towards reducing corruption and improving its ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index.
Red Cross Unit in Bahrain: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
In 2023, Bahrain scored 42 out of 100 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, where a score of 0 means "highly corrupt" and 100 means "very clean". This score placed Bahrain 76th out of 180 countries.
In 2023, Bahrain's score of 42 was slightly higher than the average score of 34 among Middle Eastern and North African countries. The best score worldwide was 90, and the worst was 11.
Yes, corruption in Bahrain has increased since the 2011 Arab Spring protests, which were violently suppressed by the Bahraini government. Before 2011, Bahrain had a moderate corruption score of 51 out of 100 and was ranked 46 out of 180 countries. As of 2018, Bahrain's corruption score had dropped to 36, and its ranking had fallen to 99.
One notable case of corruption in Bahrain involved the American Aluminum company, Alcoa Inc. In 2014, Alcoa was charged with bribing Bahraini officials, including members of the royal family, to the tune of $110 million. Another example is the suppression of political opposition and independent media by the Bahraini government, which has removed watch-dog organizations that typically help keep corruption in check.
Bahrain became a party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in 2010. Additionally, efforts by Crown Prince Salman, such as pushing for corruption cases to be brought to trial, suggest that the country may be taking steps to tackle pervasive corruption.
