Salman Nasser
When we contemplate the map of political and social transformations in the Middle East in recent decades, we notice that the Gulf states in general, and Bahrain in particular have faced a complex dilemma that requires an accurate balance between protecting political stability and opening the way for a broader community participation.
Bahrain, which has through its long history, has been a civilized bridge between civilizations and trade routes, has chosen a unique path in the past two decades based on integrating human rights and civil society within the framework of a national vision of sustainable development. This vision was not based on temporary reactions, but rather a strategic project that was launched with the National Action Charter at the beginning of the new millennium, to establish a legal and institutional base that gives civil society a room for development under the roof of the state.
One of the most prominent achievements that can be monitored is the empowerment of Bahraini women. After women’s participation in the public and political fields was limited, today it has become part of the state’s leadership equation. Entering women in Parliament, and taking over executive and judicial sites, not just a symbolic appearance; Rather, it represents a shift in the social and political structure, where national traditions converge with the requirements of the times.
As for civil society, Bahrain has been able to establish a legal and constitutional system that allowed the emergence of civil societies, charitable institutions, and human rights organizations working within a regulatory framework that balances freedom and responsibility. This approach, from a strategic perspective, achieves the country double gains:
– Enhancing internal trust between the citizen and the institutions of good governance.
– Improving the Bahrain International position in the files of governance and human rights, in a way that opens the prospects for cooperation with regional and international partners. Some may argue that the road is still long towards building a fully -elected civil society, but reading the scene within a regional context that is under the conflicts and divisions, makes the Bahraini experience a advanced model in managing gradual change. The soft power of the state is not only measured by its wealth, but by its ability to generate a sustainable social consensus.
The cornerstone is the Bahraini experience, and it takes steadfast steps towards the vision of 2030, and work on the vision of 2050 confirms that the empowerment of civil society and the promotion of human rights are not just slogans, but rather the cornerstone in preserving stability and consolidating sustainable development. The country, which builds its legitimacy on mutual trust with its citizens, and invests in their involvement in the future industry, is the country that is able to face the fluctuations of the region and turn challenges into opportunities. Here, Bahrain stands out as a unique Gulf model, which balances modernity and identity, and establishes a stage in which civil society is an authentic partner in protecting the gains of the country.
