Contested Modernity: Sectarianism, Nationalism, and Colonialism in Bahrain

Omar AlShehabi's book Contested Modernity explores how sectarianism emerged in Bahrain under British colonial rule in the early twentieth century, challenging the notion that it is solely attributed to the dominance of monarchs, Islamists, oil, and 'ancient hatreds'.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2019
Publisher: Oneworld Publications

The Arab world, particularly the Gulf States, has witnessed a growing focus on sectarianism and autocratic rule, often attributed to the dominance of monarchs, Islamists, oil, and 'ancient hatreds'. However, to understand the rise of these features, it is essential to delve into a largely forgotten but pivotal episode in history: Bahrain under British colonial rule in the early twentieth century. In his groundbreaking work, Contested Modernity, Omar AlShehabi sheds light on the emergence of sectarianism as a modern phenomenon in Bahrain. Through a comprehensive analysis of previously unexamined Arabic literature and British archives, AlShehabi reveals how absolutist rule was born in the Gulf under the tutelage of the British Raj, as a response to nationalist and anti-colonial movements associated with the al-Nahda renaissance in the broader Arab world. This book challenges us to reevaluate our perceptions of the Gulf and the Middle East as a whole, offering a fresh perspective on the complex dynamics that have shaped these regions over the past century.

The Arab world, particularly the Gulf States, has witnessed a growing focus on sectarianism and autocratic rule, often attributed to the dominance of monarchs, Islamists, oil, and 'ancient hatreds'. However, to understand the rise of these features, it is essential to delve into a largely forgotten but pivotal episode in history: Bahrain under British colonial rule in the early twentieth century. In his groundbreaking work, Contested Modernity, Omar AlShehabi sheds light on the emergence of sectarianism as a modern phenomenon in Bahrain. Through a comprehensive analysis of previously unexamined Arabic literature and British archives, AlShehabi reveals how absolutist rule was born in the Gulf under the tutelage of the British Raj, as a response to nationalist and anti-colonial movements associated with the al-Nahda renaissance in the broader Arab world. This book challenges us to reevaluate our perceptions of the Gulf and the Middle East as a whole, offering a fresh perspective on the complex dynamics that have shaped these regions over the past century.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 142 x 222 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786072917