Children's Literature
- Barbara L. Talcroft
A tiny island kingdom in the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni Muslim monarch, though 70% of the population is Shiite. Bahrain has been for centuries a center for trade throughout the Middle East. Occupied by Portugal in the 16th century, it later became a protectorate of Britain. In 1971, the ruling al-Khalifa family declared independence, but several attempts at a liberal government failed. Bahrain, once noted for its pearl fishers, was able to locate oil in 1932, becoming the first Arab state to export it. Since its oil reserves are limited, however, Bahrain's economy has diversified; today it produces aluminum and natural gas, refines petroleum, and is a major center for business and banking. Despite modernization and prosperity for some, society remains traditional; discrimination against the poorer Shiites has made Bahrain "a politically troubled nation for generations" (New York Times). Though this "Modern Muslim Nations" series is labeled "Revised and Updated," Bahrain covers events only through 2008. It would seem McCoy's assessment of Bahrain's future (perhaps prompted by its providing a base for the U.S. Fifth Fleet and acting as an ally in the "war on terrorism") is overly optimistic when she reports the hope that Bahrain can "provide a shining example for the rest of the Arab world." Students pursuing more recent research will discover that when Shiite pro-reform protests began in February, 2011, the King called for Saudi troops to crush them, and has resorted to mass arrests, torture, prison sentences, and exclusion of native Shiites from the police and military in favor of imported Sunnis. Unfortunately, Bahrain today resembles a police state—even the 300-foot Pearl Monument pictured in the text was recently blown up by the government. Note: The Foreign Policy Research Institute, is a conservative think tank, whose president has provided an introduction. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
