Britain has on certain occasions deployed its forces to quell internal clashes or ward off external foes of Al-Khalifa. Although there was strong backing from Britain, Bahrain did not develop into a unified political entity nor did the Bahranians develop into becoming single people.
Britain provided the regime with a decisive source of legitimacy. As an external source of power, Britain warded off external threats and helped the regime suppress its internal oppositions. For more than a century, but especially since discovery of oil, British might, including military force, was ready at hand to rescue Al- Khalifa from attacks by its opponents whether these were tribal, confessional, or nationalists.
Britian maintained some sort of special relations with Bahrain even after it had gained its independence. Eventually, Britians role was taken over by the United States of America. With all these external resources the Al-Khalifa have been able to retain its monopoly of the political and economical power.
A Turn To Nationalism.
Renewal nationalism - this form of nationalism can occur as part of a process of creating a new state identity that attempts to redefine the relations of the state to the world economy. (Taylor and Flint, pg205).
In order to challenge ethnic politics in Bahrain the NUC, National Union Committee was formed in 1954. Bahraini nationalists considered national unity of all Bahrainians as their first requirement for their liberation and as a step toward liberation of the Arab nation.
The NUC utilized the press and the social networks of the time to mobilize the public around a nationalist political platform. NUC mobilization for national unity, against colonialism and local reactionary allies, fitted the spirit of the time of most of the Arab region. Within its first few months, the NUC was transformed into what appeared to be, a formidable force capable of challenging the British and the ruling family and its local allies.
