Thursday, March 17, 2011

Bahrain and the Middle East

The Middle East has changed in a manner that was unthinkable even a year back. Having been in Bahrain my assessment is that democracy could be a little difficult to handle in the ME. Indians who are in Bahrain, UAE and Oman, relatively liberal places, like the peace and order there. And things would have been okay till Tunisia and Egypt happened.

The local people there were happy, even if there were rumblings. However, the main reason for discontent is the change in the economic climate that has taken away jobs from them. At such a time, the people start seeing discrimination and adduce reasons for it. Otherwise such a thing was unlikely to spread in the Arab world. If people had jobs, we would not have seen any demonstrations or discontent.

Speaking of Bahrain, it is next to Saudi but is a much more liberal place. The people are cultured and refined if a little formal, almost British. It is sad to see the sight of troops and police everywhere. The people of this small country are liberal to a fault. Here's hoping that there is a speedy resolution to the conflict that has occurred there and that both parties find a way to bring a durable peace and thereby make it the Pearl of the Desert.

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