Cover -- Contents -- Preface. Thoughts, Theories and Thanks -- Cases for Not Challenging Iran -- The al-Khalifa Dilemma -- Solving the al-Khalifa Dilemma -- Small States' Leadership Style for Survival -- Bahrain's National Interests -- Bahrain's Main Sources of Vulnerability -- The Advantages and Disadvantages of Small States -- Bahrain: A Research Gap -- Critical Reviews -- Article 1: Andersen -- Article 2: Hakala, Ghanmi and Sabrie -- The Next Steps -- Critical Pre-emption -- Thanks -- Chapter 1. Introducing Bahrain and its Regional Setting -- Mapping the Volume -- The Origins of the Kingdom of Bahrain -- Omani-Persian Competition and the Making of Modern Bahrain -- Enter the Omani Kharajite -- The Rise of the al-Khalifa Dynasty -- British Protection, Not Colonisation -- The Discovery of Oil and UK-Bahraini Relations -- Implications of Britain's Regional Retrenchment -- The Iranian Revolution and Bahraini Politics -- The Meaning of the Islamic Revolution -- The al-Wefaq Bloc in Bahrain -- Precursors to an Islamic Revolution in Bahrain? al-Wefaq and Iran -- Power by Coup d'état -- The Leadership Pyramid -- The Politicisation of Human Rights -- From Consensus to Tyranny -- A Word on Asymmetrical Warfare -- Bahrain Today -- Bahrain's Demography -- Let's Talk About Sects -- Demographics and Society in Bahrain: Methodology -- Utilised Methods -- Structured Interviews -- Semi-Structured Interviews -- Statistical Data Acquisition and Assessment -- Demographic Realities in Bahrain: A Presentation -- Government Ministries and Organisations -- The Private Sector -- The Banking Sector -- Shia Owned Companies -- Demography as a Solution -- Sociological Framework -- Geopolitics: Bahrain Style -- Overcoming Geography -- Bahrain's Survival in a Dangerous Region -- Chapter 2. Small States in Dangerous Regions: A Theoretical Assessment.

Theories and Definitions -- What Makes a Small State Small? Two Variables -- Variable 1: Population Size -- Variable 2: National Territorial Area -- Two Additional Dimensions of Being Small -- Risk Management -- Crossroads -- A Summary of Small States -- Modelling Bahrain as a Small State -- What is a Dangerous Region? -- Dangerous Regions: A Three Variable Approach -- Dangerous Regions in Perspective -- A Theory of Strategic Indulgence -- The Arabian Littoral as a Dangerous Region -- Bahrain is a Small State in a Dangerous Region -- Double Security Dilemma -- DSD Scenario: The External-Internal Perspective -- DSD Scenario: The Internal-External Perspective -- Solving Bahrain's Double Security Dilemma -- General Observations -- Observations on Bahrain -- Chapter 3. Current Challenges to Bahrain -- Bahrain's Five Central Challenges -- Organising Bahrain's Challenges -- Theorising on Key Challenges Facing Bahrain -- Non-Conflict Bargaining -- Non-Influence over Events -- Conflict Bargaining -- Exploring External Infiltration and Internal Sectarianism -- Ties between Hezbollah and Iran -- The Goals of Hezbollah and Other Paramilitary Groups -- C3ISTAR among Bahrain's Asymmetrical Fighters -- C3ISTAR Among Bahrain's Asymmetrical Fighters: MWHB, Y14F and SDB -- Asymmetrical Objectives, Strategies and Tactics -- Objective -- Strategies -- Tactical Operations -- Tactic 1: Hit and Run -- Tactic 2: Shaheed -- Tactic 3: High Velocity Projectiles -- Tactic 4: Arson -- Tactic 5: Delayed Explosives and Car Bombs -- Tactic 6: Attacks on Expats -- Tactic 7: Firebombing Ambushes -- Tactic 8: Street Rage -- Why the GCC Roundabout? -- Sandal-Clad Revolutionaries -- The GCC Deployment to Bahrain -- Direct External Intervention: The Case of Iran -- The Threat of Iranian Intervention -- Iranian Claims to Bahrain.

The Long History of Iranian Interference in and with Bahrain -- The Recent History of Iranian Interference in and with Bahrain -- How a Nuclear Iran Would Affect Bahrain and the Region -- Non-Conflictual Bargaining -- Non-Influence over Events -- Potential Regional Conflicts -- Scenario 1: Iran-US -- Consequences for Bahrain -- Scenario 2: Iran-Saudi Arabia (and the GCC) -- Causes of Conflict -- Consequences for Bahrain -- On Reflection … -- Chapter 4. The US/UK-Bahrain Alliance in Perspective -- Post-WWII Interests in the Gulf: The US and UK -- Britain's Post-WWII Regional Interests -- A Three-Pronged Approach -- The US's Post-WWII Regional Interests -- US Interests in the Post-WWII Regional Environment -- Specific US Interests Related to Bahrain -- Phase 1: The Iran-Iraq War and its Aftermath -- Phase 2: Post-September 11 and the War on Terror -- Phase 3: The Arab Spring -- The US 5th Fleet in Regional Affairs -- A Short (But Dense) History of the US Fifth Fleet -- Saving the Faltering Alliance -- What is Wrong With the Obama Administration? -- Chapter 5. The GCC, Regional Security, Economic Integration and Bahraini Survival -- The Lead-Up to Alliance: The Origins of the GCC -- Changes along the Littoral -- And … Just Beyond the Littoral -- Back to Bahrain: The GCC as a Security Provider -- The Interests, Objectives, Strategies and Tactics of the GCC -- Objective 1: Enhanced Security for Members -- Objective 2: Economic Stability -- Objective 3: Energy Security -- The Regional Impact of the GCC -- Non-GCC Arabian Littoral States -- Non-GCC MENA States: Potential Members -- GCC Enlargement: Jordan and Morocco -- Non-GCC International Actors -- Bahrain and the GCC: A Small State with Options -- Peninsular Shield Force (PSF) and Beyond -- The GCC is the Alliance of Choice -- Chapter 6. Conclusion: From Revolution to Reinvention in Bahrain.

Revisiting the Catch-22 of Iranian Interference -- Police and Security Forces -- Private and Public Property, Critical Infrastructure Repairs -- Medical Facilities -- The Judiciary -- Opportunity Costs -- Bahrain before 2011 -- Bahraini Society -- Economic Transformations and Opportunities -- The Existing Social Contract: True Multiculturalism -- Women and Society in Bahrain -- Sports and National Events -- Postscript. When all is Said and Done … -- Selected Bibliography -- Index.