This paper examines the emergence of Sunni Muslim street mobilization in the wake
of the February 14th 2011 Bahraini uprising. Drawing on social movement theory
it argues that framing was pivotal in the mobilization. More specifically the paper
analyses the framing processes of the Shura council members of Sahwat al-Fateh
based on fieldwork conducted in Bahrain in the spring 2012.
The Sunni-dominated counter-movements that emerged in reaction to the
uprising did not only call for stronger government responses to the uprising and more
efficient security measures, which had been the case in similar situations earlier, but
also voiced political demands. Calling for political reform and an end to government
corruption their message had similarities with the February 14th movement, though
they also carried anti-opposition sentiments. This paper argues that the Sunni
Muslims in their framing drew lines between themselves and the government,
creating boundaries that shaped their political identity.
Whilst the ethno-religious divide in Bahrain still separates the Sunni- and Shia-
dominated movements and defines the idea of "the other" amongst great parts of the
population, I find that there is a growing recognition that the interests of the Sunni
government is not necessarily the same as the interests of the Sunni street. This
creates a new political dynamic where the government is not necessarily able to rally
and control Sunni Muslim political movements in the same way as they have
previously. New youth movements emerging want to influence politics themselves
and not just have their interests represented by the old political and religious authority
figures. The demarcation lines in the Bahraini political landscape is changing and the
members Sahwat al-Fates see themself as outsiders in Bahraini politics despite being
Sunni Muslims. This can make regime survival increasingly difficult for the Bahraini
government, which is used to creating support for the system by underlining
cleavages along ethno-religious lines.
Middle East/Near East Studies