With little or no space for opposition politics, Bahraini public life is dominated by the ruling Al-Khalifa family, making dynastic dynamics a key factor in an opaque political environment. Competition between King Hamad’s sons Crown Prince Salman and Sheikh Nasser could shape the island’s future direction. GSN analyses the current balance of power in the ruling family and its relationship to other key GCC leaders.
While Bahrain’s government celebrated the 21st anniversary of King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa’s National Charter in February, opponents marked a parallel anniversary, of the 2001 pro-democracy uprisings. For critics among the majority Shia population and others, the promise of those years remains unfulfilled.
A heavy-handed state has suppressed most dissent and there is little space for opposition politics. However, a few dissenting voices can still be heard. Marking the February anniversaries, Bahrain’s most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim (the spiritual leader of the banned Al-Wefaq party), called for “the establishment of a democratic and constitutional system to replace the ruling Al-Khalifa dynasty”.
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Perspectives
GSN visits the archives and sounds expert opinion to profile senior members of the ruling Al-Khalifa family, focusing on King Hamad Bin Isa, Crown Prince Salman and national security advisor Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad.
Profile: Bahrain’s King Hamad - An affable figure for troubled times
Profile: Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman - a ‘liberal’ among the Al-Khalifa
Profile: Bahrain’s Nasser Bin Hamad - a favourite rises higher
Bahrain: Al-Khalifa family tree – revised March 2022
Revised in March 2022, this abridged family tree of Bahrain's ruling Al-Khalifa family illustrates the main line of succession from Sheikh Ali (r. 1868-69) to King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman.
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