Uprising of Bahrain - Essay Example

Bahrain’s Uprising Bahrain is experiencing tremendous sorrows in the midst of a revolution. The people have sacrificed their lives hoping for a future full of prosperity and joy. The majority in Bahrain is Shiite, but the rulers come from the Sunni minority (Ulrichsen, 2013). Remarkably, the sorrow experienced by Bahrain people is associated with the conflict that faced the country, which emerged from an accusation of the ruling party’s/dynasty’s incumbency and its attempts to change Bahraini demographics through encouraging immigrants to take up the country’s nationality (Ulrichsen, 2013). Several years have seen discontent on the rise among the people as well as growing demands for freedom of speech, independence of the judicial system, release of political prisoners, and a new constitution. The source of discontent is clear at the beginning of the Bahraini uprising at the period of Arab spring, but the mode of propagation of the discontent could be debated from different viewpoints with major contention focusing on whether social media had a significant impact in the Bahraini uprising (Wehrey, 2013). Howard and Hussain (2011) addressed the issue of social media in the uprising giving a number of opinions while Wehrey (2013) gives his views on the Pearl Roundabout uprising in his 2013 article titled ‘Bahrain’s Decade of Discontent’. Howard and Hassan (2011) are of the opinion that digital media is what helped in turning community-specific, localized and individualized dissent from its original setting into movements that were designed for shared grievances and which provided an opportunity for action. Wehrey (2013), on the other hand purports that while digital activists in the Middle East are to be credited with some accomplishments like documenting police brutality, the underlying social, religious, political, and historical aspects engrained in the uprising far outweigh the impact of social media in sparking the protests. The viewpoints regarding impact of social media in the Bahraini Uprising may differ, but certainly common ground exists based on shared passion for overall change in the regime from the current oppressive one to a more democratic one. The shared concern expressed in both articles is the necessity for reforms in the political system of Bahrain. The social upheavals in Bahrain are a result of a series of collective issues that have led the people to seek change in power dynamics. The ruling political class or regime as argued by Wehrey is guilty of violating freedom of speech and political rights, as well as poor economic management. The rulers in Bahrain have chosen dominance over democracy with the king determining the appropriateness or rights of any political or social group and network to express its opinions openly. Public opinion is constantly monitored, regulated, and restricted. On this point, Howard and Hassan concur that restrictions of freedom of expression are not only in parliament, but also in the media as well with print media having large government ownership. The press and publications law of 2002 restricts privately owned media resources by imposing heavy fines, as well as imprisonment for any criticism of the regime. The disagreement concerning the necessary political reforms arise when the authors explore the means by which reforms are to be implemented and the main propellant of the uprisings. On one hand, Howard and Hassan argue the role of digital media is eminent in the uprising. However, Wehrey rebukes the idea that social media is an underlying factor that has developed over time for the Arab uprising. According to Howard and Hassan (2011), Arab uprising has contributed to the spread and rise of youth tech activists in various regions such as across North Africa and the Middle East. Digital media has allowed movements garnering for democratization to develop new tactics, which catch dictators off guard, like the sudden upheaval in Bahrain. Wehrey is more issue based and is of the opinion that the 2011 Pearl Roundabout uprising was sparked by protests in Cairo and Tunis as broadcast by various newsrooms but the dissent was a watershed in Bahrain’s political life. The social and religious undertones in over a decade have proven to be the roots of the uprising not so much the impact of social media. The authors of the two articles seem to represent the fact that the people of Bahrain dissent the ruling class/dynasty for imposition of draconian laws, under which, thousands of people have been prosecuted and banished. Wehrey notes that dissidents and activists have expressed concerns over the impunity by the king to change unilaterally the Constitution with reference to the act in 1973 that made the elected parliament inferior to the Majilis. The king’s move has up to date been regarded a pivotal moment, which contributed towards the nation’s dynamic decent into authoritarianism. Howard and Hassan (2011) highlight the agitation for political reforms in Bahrain by activists who are demanding progressive reforms in line with the people’s concerns of rights and citizenship, as well as security. The mode of facilitating the changes that activists from all spheres are agitating for is what presents a difference in opinion between the authors. Howard and Hassan propose the use of digital media consistently to build strong opposition networks. They argue that the major evidence of change will be portrayed and narrated by online activities through building of extensive networks by those interested in democracy. Notably, Wehrey opinion of strengthening the parliamentary system though democratic elections and constitutional reforms differs from that of building extensive networks to strengthen democracy proposed by Howard and Hassan. For Wehrey, the thing to look out for is how new leaders will enforce constitutional changes through the parliament. In summary, Wehrey can deduce the viewpoints expressed in the articles as insistence on the need to have political reforms in the parliamentary system of Bahrain as a means to democracy while Howard and Hassan emphasize on the necessity of using social media as a tool/ means to bring political and social justice to Bahrain. Even so, both essays can come to a common ground on the basis of shared passion for overall change in the regime from the current oppressive one to a more democratic one. References Howard, P. N. & Hussain, M. M. (2011). The role of digital media. Journal of Democracy, 22 (3), pp. 35--48. Ulrichsen, K. C. (2013). Bahrain’s uprising: regional dimensions and international consequences. Stability: International Journal of Security and Development, 2 (1), pp. --14. Wehrey, F. (2013). Bahrain's decade of discontent. Journal of Democracy, 24 (3), pp. 116--126. Read More