Kuwaiti Girl
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What I meant to say was that the economic growth that was witnessed in the years prior to the global financial crisis succeeded in papering over the cracks. The Bahraini people have been struggling for more political rights since the 1920s and 30s, by the way. Back then, the British Empire squashed all forms of dissent in Bahrain and helped the royal family rule over the masses with an iron rod. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the Bahraini people repeatedly attempted to gain more political rights, but they failed to do so. Back in those days, the Bahraini government accused the political dissidents of being agents of Nasser's Egypt. Today, however, they accuse them of being agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
This game has gone for far too long. Sooner or later, it's going to come to an end.
Bahrain's GCC neighbors, particularly Kuwait, wisely advised the Bahraini rulers to develop the country's economy and create jobs for the people in order to suppress anti-government sentiment. It worked to some extent, especially in the early 2000s.
Bahrain had a golden opportunity to undergo political reforms during the years of economic growth. That was the best time for the Bahraini government to reach a permanent settlement with the political opposition. Unfortunately, however, the Bahraini rulers became complacent and naively thought that economic growth in their country was going to continue forever and that the need for political reform was no longer important for their survival.
Then the global financial crisis of 2008 happened, after which the country began to go downhill.
Right now, the Bahrainis are repeating the same mistakes that they made in the years prior to 2008. Once again, they have become complacent and are refusing to implement social and political reforms.
Sooner or later, the economic situation in Bahrain will deteriorate to the point where nationwide protests will erupt all over again. Unemployment has increased a lot since 2011, especially among the youth population. People are getting angrier and are losing their patience. And to make matters worse, a lot of young Bahrainis are either in jail or at home without work. Many young Bahrainis also lost their government-funded scholarships to study abroad as a form of punishment for their political convictions.
In order for the Bahraini government to avoid another uprising in the future, it must address the political problems immediately. Back in the 2000s, it was able to afford not addressing these problems because the economy was growing and jobs were being created. But today, things are different. Nowadays, many people in Bahrain enjoy neither economic/financial nor political prosperity. This is a recipe for disaster.
I truly hope the Bahrainis address their domestic issues as soon as possible.
I don't want to see this country turn into a Syrian-style shithole in the coming years.
