Open Society?

Ah yes, Bahrain, an open society... and "a flourishing democracy" which has "demonstrated remarkable strides in political governance, including an impressive movement towards the inclusion of women in politics"... even if they do say so themselves... If there is a snake in this Garden of Eden, it surely must have slithered in from Iran!

Openness, freedom, democracy, the love of a people towards their rulers.... in a nutshell paradise, Bahrain. The proof? Why, the King very generously appointed some non family members to be cabinet ministers! And also allows the populace to vote for the 40-member Chamber of Deputies (note: the King appoints the 40-member Consultative Council, which can block any legislation that passes the Chamber of Deputies). What more could the hoi polloi want?

Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifah - King
Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa - Crown Prince, Commander in Chief of the Bahrain Defense Forces.

Shaikh Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah, Prime Minister.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa - Deputy Premier Minister.
Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa - Deputy Premier Minister.
Jawad Salem Al-Urayyedh - Deputy Premier Minister.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa - Deputy Prime Minister.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa - Minister of Defense Affairs.
Fahmi Al Jowder - Minister of Electricity & Water.
Abdulaziz Al-Fadhel - Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
Shaikh Rashed bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa - Minister of Interior of Bahrain.
Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa - Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Hassan Abdulla Fakhro - Minister of Commerce & Industry.
Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf - Minister of Works.
Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa - Minister of Finance.
Majed Ali Al No'aimi - Minister of Education.
Majeed Mohsen Al Alawi - Minister of Labor.
Abdulhussain Mirza - Minister of Oil & Gas.
Faisal Al Hamar - Minister of Health.
Fatima Mohammed Al-Balooshi - Minister of Social Development.
Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa - Minister of Justice & Islamic Affairs.
Juma Ahmed Al Kaabi - Minister of Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning
Nizar Sadeq Al-Baharna - Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Shaikh Ahmed bin Attiyatallah Al-Khalifa - Minister of Cabinet Affairs.
Sheikha May Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa - Minister of Culture and Information.
Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmad bin Salman Al Khalifa - Minister of the Royal Court
Shaikh Ali bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa - Minister of Royal Court Affairs.
Shaikh Ahmad bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa - Minister of the Royal Court for Follow-Up Affairs

Bahrain (CIA World Factbook)
Bahrain (Fullbright Scholar Program)
Bahrain links (University of Oklahoma)
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain (Washington, D.C.)

Ed.Note: No guarantee that I got this 100% correct, it's hard to keep this lot straight! However, even if there's an error or two, it doesn't invalidate the point being made...