Bahrain and the Compliance Gap – PLSC 359: Global Governance

The current situation in Bahrain is one of political strife and violence. This fact is not lost to the American government but it is one that continues to be ignored by both the press and media. In 2011 as the Arab Spring spread throughout the Middle East, tensions in Bahrain boiled over into a month long series of protests and demonstrations. The Shiite civilian majority of Bahrain was engaged in a political struggle with the Sunni autocratic leaders, whom the citizens feel have excluded them from the political sphere. Protests took place from February 14^th to March 18^th. On February 17^th the protests turned deadly and dangerous, as the military started firing gas and rubber bullets into the crowds. In addition, there were mass arrests, house raids, denial of medical care and imprisonments. On February 22^nd more than 150,000 Bahraini citizens gathered around Pearl Roundabout to protest. The uprisings were squashed after 1,000 Saudi and 500 UAE troops entered after a plea from Bahrain for assistance.

Even though the uprisings have stopped, protests still occur regularly in Bahrain[1]. Despite the growing violence and human rights violations the American and International community have refused to intervene or provide any substantial condemnation. The reasoning for this lack of intervention is the inherent interests of the US military and Arabic stability that reside in keeping a positive relationship with the current leadership of Bahrain[2]. These interest lie in three main arguments. First, Bahrain is a military stronghold with the extensive fifth fleet being housed on Bahrain’s shores. The Fifth Fleet is a naval operation that is in charge of the volatile region of the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and some of the Indian Ocean. Second, trade between the two countries is high. While Bahrain’s oil reserves have diminished they are still in close partnership with the USA in creating new innovations. During the year 2012, bilateral trade was in excess of $1.9 billon. And lastly, the US government wishes to avoid further insurgency in the region. American officials fear that by allowing the protests to go on and dispose the current rulers, that Bahrain will become vulnerable to terrorist organizations. There has been fear that Al-Qaeda will start to move into Bahrain to entice the Shiite population.

While it is understandable that these motivations are keeping the United States and its allies quiet on the subject, in the long run the devastating effects that dismissing the protests have on the United States’ credibility are immense. The interest the USA has in Bahrain is a clear example of the difficulties in enforcing compliance in global governance, even when human rights violations are present.

[1] McDaniel, Richard. Brookings Institute. Publication. June 2013. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2013/06/24-us-strategic-access-middle-east-bahrain-mcdaniel/24-us-strategic-access-middle-east-bahrain-mcdaniel.pdf.

[2] Ibid.

Kim says:

February 8, 2016 at 5:10 pm

Sarah mentions that the lack of involvement from the United States and the international community was due to three reasons: first, Bahrain’s geographical position and the security of the Fifth Fleet, second, the economic incentive of securing Bahrain’s oil reserves, and lastly, avoiding further unrest in the region. I want to add that the unrest in the region is specifically fueled by a showdown of power between two rival states: Saudi Arabia (and the GCC) with Iran.

Bahrain is a part of the Gulf Cooperation Council which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. This council is in many ways arguably a coalition and combination of powerful states that create their own hegemony of power in the Arab world, the Indian Ocean, and the international community. Many critics have called Saudi Arabia’s and the UAE’s involvement in Bahraini protesting as a sign of the extension of power by this hegemony as they compete with another upcoming and equally powerful rival state: Iran. In their article, Bronner and Slackman cites that this is just another step in the ongoing proxy war with the rival sovereign power, who is blamed for the increased Shi’ite activity in the region. And so just as Sarah argues, the United states is only acting on behalf of its ally -Saudi Arabia, in ensuring that the monarchy stays intact (the inherit motivations) and that is ensured by the lack of international intervention despite the overwhelming evidence of human rights violations in Bahrain.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/world/middleeast/15bahrain.html