Arab Spring and the escalation of the sectarian divide in Bahrain: An assessment

Abstract

This article assesses why the Bahraini "Day of Rage" has inflamed sectarian fear and prompted open hostility between Sunni and Shi'a inhabitants of the kingdom. The analysis approaches the subject from a psychological perspective. Using Vamik Volkan's theory, the article presents a detailed overview of the social conflict in which religious identities play a central role. Influence of large-group psychology on the unfolding events enables a more in-depth understanding of the tense situation in Bahrain. The social division engulfing Bahrain is representative of the power struggle and confessional tensions in the Gulf region.

Keywords

• Bahrain
• sectarianism
• Sunni
• Shi'a
• revolution
• Arab Spring
• group identity