Abstract
The article applies a micro-sociological approach to investigate civil-military relations in a very concrete form: How do interactions between protesters and security forces shape the development of a conflict? Based on fieldwork in Bahrain and interviews with activists, journalists and opposition politicians, the article analyses the micro-sociological dynamics of how, despite great numbers and momentum, the Arab Uprising in Bahrain was repressed without, however turning into a military insurgence as in Syria. The article argues that the Bahraini regime was able to repress and silence the February 14 uprising through; 1) non-intervention during the momentum of the uprising, 2) injuring, torturing, and imprisoning rather than killing protesters, and 3) employment of expats in the military and police. Zooming in on micro-sociological processes provides not only a detailed narrative of the events, but also a recognition of dynamics that are often overlooked, notably how particular forms of repression make people gather in solidarity and outrage, energizing further counter-action, whereas other forms of repression involving torture, imprisonment, and injuring, but no visible, lethal violence can de-energize a protest movement.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies (SJMS) |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 9-19 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Keywords
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Bahrain
- repression
- micro-sociology
- Arab uprising
- Protest
