Bahrain : political development in a modernizing society / Emile Nakhleh.

Preface to the 2011 edition written by Emile Nakleh, dated March 2011.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 179-187) and index.

The book discusses the grievances that have existed in Bahrain for years, which stem from the rule of a minority Sunni ruling family over a majority of Shia. The grievances include political repression, economic discrimination, and human rights violations. These grievances are at the heart of the on-going anti-regime demonstrations in Bahrain. Bahrain, a small yet geopolitically prized and culturally complex country has been propelled to the headlines, but Emile Nakhleh was there first. His seminal account of Bahrain's political development brims with insights every bit as topical as today's news. I was not surprised to learn that the Arabic translation of the volume is much respected in Bahrain. Nakhleh's extensive fieldwork began not long after the Gulf state won independence. His intricate, richly detailed accounts of political socialization, government institutions and practices, as well as associational life remain relevant. Any serious reader interested in Gulf politics will want to have Nakhleh's rewarding study of Bahrain at hand, particularly to understand how political power and influence are sustained and wielded.