Micro-Dynamics of Repression: How Interactions between Protesters and Security Forces Shaped the Bahraini Uprising

Summary, in English

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.

• Författare: Isabel Bramsen
• Publiceringsår: 2018
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 9-19
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies (SJMS)
• Volym: 2
• Issue: 1
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.31374/sjms.13
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: Royal Danish Defence College
• Ämne: Political Science
• Nyckelord: Bahrain; repression; micro-sociology; Arab uprising; Protest
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 2596-3856