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Significance
Although large-scale social protest in Bahrain has been cowed over the ten years since the ‘Arab uprisings’, small-scale demonstrations recur, reflecting a base level of discontent. Mobilising issues include economic pressures, limited political representation (especially of the Shia majority) and, most recently, ties with Israel.
Impacts
Despite protests, Israel’s and Bahrain’s respective ambassadors will keep up high-profile activity and statements.
The authorities are likely to exaggerate the role of Iranian interference in order to deepen the Sunni-Shia divide.
If Riyadh manages to extricate itself from the Yemen war, that could partly reduce the pressure on Manama.
Keywords:
Bahrain,
ME/NAF,
Israel,
Saudi Arabia,
economy,
politics,
social,
fiscal,
foreign policy,
judicial,
nationality,
protest,
religion,
security,
human rights
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2021
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