Bahrain as the area of Saudi‑Iranian rivalry in the second decade of the 21st century
Bahrajn jako obszar rywalizacji saudyjsko‑irańskiej w drugiej dekadzie XXI wieku

Summary/Abstract: Despite Bahrain’s small size, the country’s inner political and religious configuration of powers as well as its geopolitical layout make it an area of special interest. At the same time, the existence of the above circumstances contributes to the perceptionof Bahrain as a field of rivalry, or even a proxy war, as was the case during the Arab Spring of 2011, between two key actors in the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. One of the factors which influence the importance of Bahrain’s position in the region is the fact that for decades the country has been ruled by a more influential Sunni minority,whereas Shia Bahrainis, who constitute majority of the population, are permanently discriminated by the government in Manama. Other factors are Bahrain’s territorial closeness to Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, a strategic region rich in oil deposits, inhabited by Shiites, and its territorial closeness to Shia Iran, which supports Bahraini Shiites, who are thereby considered a threat to the integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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