Inrecentdecades,theculture,society,politics,andeconomicsofBahrainhavebeentransformed,drivingitsglobalambitionswhileretainingtoadegreetheruleoflawandcosmopolitanism.IslamandCapitalismintheMakingofModernBahrainexaminesthetransformationofBahrainfromthe1930s,fromaregionaltradingportandthenanimportantoilproducerintothefinancialhubfortheGulfandintoaglobalcentreofIslamicfinance.ItfocusesonthechangesandtensionsthattransformationbroughttoBahrain’spolitical,legal,economic,religious,andsocialstructures.Inthisbook,RajeswaryBrownexplorestherisingforceofyouthpopulismdrivenbythepersistenceofpovertyandunemployment,notablyamongruralShi’itecommunitiesandunemployedmiddle-classyouth,aswellasexaminingBahrain’sskillfulreconciliationofthedemandsofIslamicfaith,expressedintheSharia,totherequirementsofmodernfinancialcapitalism.Inthis,Bahrain’sexperiencecanbesetagainstthemodernhistoryofmuchoftherestoftheMiddleEast,moststrikinglywithrespecttothepositionofIslamiccharities,notablyinSyria,comparisonsofwhicharefullyexploredhere.
economic LEGAL RELIGIOUS MAKING
