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The U nited S tates and B ahrain: Interpreting the Differentiated U . S . Responses to the A rab S pring
Author(s) -
Cooper Andrew F.,
Momani Bessma,
Farooq Asif B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
digest of middle east studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.225
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 1949-3606
pISSN - 1060-4367
DOI - 10.1111/dome.12053
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , political science , incentive , administration (probate law) , spring (device) , humanities , politics , economics , art , philosophy , law , engineering , linguistics , mechanical engineering , microeconomics
We examine how the U nited S tates' response to the situation in B ahrain can be differentiated from that in L ibya and E gypt based on a comparative content analysis of the U . S . administration's press releases, remarks, and interviews during the first three months of the A rab S pring movement. Our findings indicate that although the level and duration of violence were comparable, the U . S . government response was strikingly different with the support given to the B ahraini government, in contrast to the critical stances adopted towards L ibya and E gypt. We explain how the U nited S tates' lack of political incentive to act and concerted support by its allies were influential factors for the U nited S tates' differentiated policy during the A rab S pring.