CIAO DATE: 03/2013
February 2013
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Bahrain is wracked by simmering violence and social divisions, and the government appears unwilling to enact substantial political reforms. The three main Bahraini political forces—the Shia opposition, Sunni Islamists, and the ruling Sunni Al Khalifa family—are paralyzed by internal fissures with more militant idealists overtaking pragmatists. This is a crucial test of the United States’ ability to balance the need for political reform with long-standing strategic interests and military partnerships.
Resource link: The Precarious Ally: Bahrain's Impasse and U.S. Policy [PDF]