Risk Management Report: Bahrain
Risk Management
Issue 984
- 08 Jan 2015
| 1 minute read
POLITICS: The Al-Khalifa came to power in 1783, taking its authority from
the family’s conquest of the archipelago from the Persian empire. Britain,
interested in maritime trade routes, entered into an alliance with the Al-
Khalifa in 1820 and helped secure its rule; it was not until 1971 that Bahrain
declared independence. A new constitution provided for a fully elected
parliament, formed in 1973, but that was disbanded in 1975 after it fell out
with the ruler. A partially elected body was reinstated in the 2002 constitution,
but power lies primarily with the executive, and the preponderance of Al-
Khalifa in key positions means lines between state and ruling family are very
blurred. The Sunni royal family rules over a population that is majority Shiite.
Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa has been king since 2002.
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