Micro-Dynamics of Repression: How Interactions between Protesters and Security Forces Shaped the Bahraini Uprising
Bramsen, Isabel LU
(2018)
In Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies (SJMS)
2(1).
p.9-19
- Abstract
- 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... (More)
- 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. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/454eca05-2ce3-409e-b660-db675f0de0c4
- author
- Bramsen, Isabel
LU
- publishing date
- 2018
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Bahrain, repression, micro-sociology, Arab uprising, Protest
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies (SJMS)
- volume
- 2
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 11 pages
- publisher
- Royal Danish Defence College
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85071311750
- ISSN
- 2596-3856
- DOI
- 10.31374/sjms.13
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 454eca05-2ce3-409e-b660-db675f0de0c4
- date added to LUP
- 2020-03-10 13:21:21
- date last changed
- 2025-10-14 13:25:28
@article{454eca05-2ce3-409e-b660-db675f0de0c4,
abstract = {{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.}},
author = {{Bramsen, Isabel}},
issn = {{2596-3856}},
keywords = {{Bahrain; repression; micro-sociology; Arab uprising; Protest}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{9--19}},
publisher = {{Royal Danish Defence College}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies (SJMS)}},
title = {{Micro-Dynamics of Repression: How Interactions between Protesters and Security Forces Shaped the Bahraini Uprising}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.31374/sjms.13}},
doi = {{10.31374/sjms.13}},
volume = {{2}},
year = {{2018}},
}