Qatar and Bahrain Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Qatar and Bahrain - Research Paper Example The British had defined the national borders, but they did not demarcate most of these boundaries properly, which left prospects for conflict, particularly in regions that had the most expensive deposits of oil. In the Gulf, British- controlled forces saw to it that there was peace and order, and British officers settled local disputes. Nevertheless, this was not until the year 1971 when these influences as well as officials withdrew, resulting in the inception of suppressed ethnic hostilities as well as old territorial claims. The impetuous significance of boundaries in defining oil deposits’ ownership as well as the notion of the modern state that the European supremacy pioneered into the Gulf States stirred up heightened territorial disagreements (Library of Congress Country Studies, 1993). Introduction Boundary problems comprise one of a succession of dilemmas in the region of the Arabian Gulf. Moreover, they mirror tensions in the region. Amongst these problems, the confl icts between Qatari and Bahraini were the most serious. The source of this clash dates back to the nineteenth century when Great Britain fully controlled the Arabian Peninsula’s eastern region. This dispute affected the relationship between Qatar and Bahrain as well as threatened Gulf Cooperation Council’s existence (Karam, 2007). ... It has severally made them want to fight, and it has been an enduring problem not only for both emirates’ British protectorate but also for Saudi Arabia and Gulf Cooperation Council, endeavoring to maintain peace in the region (Theestimate.com, 2001). Although both parties concur with the fact that in the 18th century (prior to ousting the Iranians from Bahrain), the Arab clan of the Al Khalifa had inhabited Al Zubarah and that they inhabited Bahrain some years afterward, they differ regarding the prevailing subsequent legal circumstances. The Al Thani, Qatar’s ruling family, disputed strongly the claim by Al Khalifa to the ancient area of settlement presently in the hands of the Qatari over and above laying claim to the Hawar (inhabited by Bahraini) and neighboring islands, very close to Qatar mainland but over 20Kms from Bahrain (U.S. Department of State, 2012). According to Qatar, in the year 1937, Bahrain illegally and clandestinely occupied the Islands of Hawar. On the other hand, Bahrain insists that its leader was only carrying out legitimate works of exercising control in his own region. Qatar’s Ruler presented the British Government with protests through a letter dated May  10, 1938. He was protesting against what he referred to as Bahrain’s irregular action against Qatar and earlier in February  1938, he had already referred to this issue in Doha where he had a talk with the Political Agent to Britain in Bahrain. The British Political Agent later wrote Qatar’s Ruler on 20  May the same year, asking him to express his case on Hawar as soon as possible. The latter wrote back on 27  May  1938 and on 3  January  1939, Bahrain presented a counter-claim. Qatar’s Ruler then presented the British Political Agent with his