I've been living in Bahrain for a little over a year now and what can I say..... Guess it is one of the most westernized countries of the middle east. Haven't had any major situation here so far but i'm pretty aware that if a legal situation arises, we, as expats, will always loose the case against the locals (no hard feelings but that's the way it is). Guess the situation also depends on what you, as an expat do in Bahrain; i.e it's not the same to come to Bahrain as a Pilot or as a high rank employee of a multinational rather than coming here as a simple laborer (domestic employees or construction work force). Money talks and that helps a little bit but still, one can see almost each and every day all those cases about maids taken to Salmaniya Hospital beaten to dead by a local sponsor or the poor indian subcontinent guys who are treated worst than animals, transported in trucks like cows, at 47° C without A/C, working 15 hours shift per 50 dinars a month, and living in !!!!holes, (most of the time 8 or 10 guys sharing a 2 bedroom apartment). Think if you ask one of this poor guys about Bahrain, they'll tell you that Bahrain is far off from being open, westernized, or that there is any respect for human rights here in the sand pit. Cheers!!!!!