--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want self-determination. If that means…" description: "\"I want self-determination. If that means having a constitutional monarchy as the first step, fine. But, in the end, people in Bahrain should have the r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/zainab-al-khawaja-44067_constitutional-monar_i-want-self-determination-if-that-means_2009434.jpg" --- # I want self-determination. If that means having a… ![“I want self-determination. If that means having a constitutional monarchy as the first step, fine. But, in the end, people in Bahrain should have the right to vote and choose their president. A single family should not be allowed to rule on its own.” quote by Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/zainab-al-khawaja-44067_constitutional-monar_i-want-self-determination-if-that-means_2009434.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/zainab-al-khawaja-44067_constitutional-monar_i-want-self-determination-if-that-means_2009434.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/zainab-al-khawaja-44067_constitutional-monar_i-want-self-determination-if-that-means_2009434.jpg) > “I want self-determination. If that means having a constitutional monarchy as the first step, fine. But, in the end, people in Bahrain should have the right to vote and choose their president. A single family should not be allowed to rule on its own.” [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates gradual political change, starting with a constitutional monarchy, but ultimately demanding democratic elections and ending dynastic rule. **In simple terms:** Calls for stepwise reform toward full democratic rights. Key Takeaway Support incremental change while pushing for ultimate democracy. Themes democracy reform human rights political transition Mood determined hopeful Type political activist When to use this quote - activism - policy advocacy - public speaking - international diplomacy Key Concepts constitutional monarchy citizen participation authoritarianism Questions to Reflect On - How can transitional systems balance stability and democratic aspirations? - What safeguards prevent a monarchy from becoming entrenched? A Different Perspective Dynastic rule may resist reforms, slowing progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bahrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bahrain/) [Constitutional monarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-monarchy/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [Monarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monarchy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Self determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-determination/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [I am not proud of the King of Bahrain, in whose name people have been killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/i-am-not-proud-of-the-king-of-bahrain-in-whose-name-people-have-been/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [The people in the West are supposed to believe that Bahrain is a country whose people live a life of peace, but we suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/the-people-in-the-west-are-supposed-to-believe-that-bahrain-is-a/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [In Georgia, where I spend much time, the democratically elected pro-western President Mikhail Saakashvili has been beleaguered by a riotous opposition which proposes creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/in-georgia-where-i-spend-much-time-the-democratically-elected-pro/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [“It would mean Morny had no loyalty at all to Louis XVIII or the constitutional monarchy or anything else he has swon to defend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-messina/it-would-mean-morny-had-no-loyalty-at-all-to-louis-xviii-or-the/) [Lynn Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-messina/) > [“Moral spontaneity" corresponds entirely with "religious and orthodox philosophy", "constitutional monarchy", "the Christian state", "freedom with certain limits", or in a figure, to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/moral-spontaneity-corresponds-entirely-with-religious-and-orthodox/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [The fundamental difference between Islamic government, on the one hand, and constitutional monarchy and republics, on the other, is this: whereas the representatives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruhollah-khomeini/the-fundamental-difference-between-islamic-government-on-the-one-hand/) [Ruhollah Khomeini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruhollah-khomeini/) > [My father established the first women's university in the kingdom, abolished slavery, and tried to establish a constitutional monarchy that separates the position of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basmah-bint-saud/my-father-established-the-first-women-s-university-in-the-kingdom/) [Basmah bint Saud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basmah-bint-saud/) > [A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy - "A republic," replied the Doctor, "if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-lady-asked-dr-franklin-well-doctor-what-have-we-got-a-republic-or-a/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In a democracy, every ordinary citizen is effectively a king--but a king in a constitutional democracy, a monarch who decides only formally, whose function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/in-a-democracy-every-ordinary-citizen-is-effectively-a-king-but-a/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [The Sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights - the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-sovereign-has-under-a-constitutional-monarchy-such-as-ours-three/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [“Jefferson's ambivalence toward the French Revolution matters. As a key founder of the American republic, he bridges the moderate and radical Enlightenments. He tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-r-holmes/jefferson-s-ambivalence-toward-the-french-revolution-matters-as-a-key/) [Kim R. Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-r-holmes/) > [A constitutional monarchy requires the monarch to be above politics but to be fully informed about politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/a-constitutional-monarchy-requires-the-monarch-to-be-above-politics/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [The State, every government whatever its form, character or color - be it absolute or constitutional, monarchy or republic, Fascist, Nazi or bolshevik -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-state-every-government-whatever-its-form-character-or-color-be-it/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [I have only met Prince Charles once, when he was very charming and easy to chat to. I have always had a soft spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/i-have-only-met-prince-charles-once-when-he-was-very-charming-and/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [We are a constitutional monarchy. I don't order laws, I propose them. Article 35 of our constitution states that the king can only refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/we-are-a-constitutional-monarchy-i-don-t-order-laws-i-propose-them/) [Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/) ## More by Zainab al-Khawaja > [I am not proud of the King of Bahrain, in whose name people have been killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/i-am-not-proud-of-the-king-of-bahrain-in-whose-name-people-have-been/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [A dialogue sounds like a great idea, but we don't think the government actually wants one. The royal family lied in 2011 when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/a-dialogue-sounds-like-a-great-idea-but-we-don-t-think-the-government/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [I am Shiite and proud of it. But the green bracelet I am wearing on my right arm, and which identifies me as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/i-am-shiite-and-proud-of-it-but-the-green-bracelet-i-am-wearing-on-my/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [If someone is calling for democracy, he is calling for an end of a dictatorship and if this is the will of the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/if-someone-is-calling-for-democracy-he-is-calling-for-an-end-of-a/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [The people in the West are supposed to believe that Bahrain is a country whose people live a life of peace, but we suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/the-people-in-the-west-are-supposed-to-believe-that-bahrain-is-a/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [The government is not doing anything to help the country to heal. The government is just making cosmetic changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/the-government-is-not-doing-anything-to-help-the-country-to-heal-the/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [We don't want peace over freedom. We will choose freedom over peace. We will go on with our fight for self-determination and democracy. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/we-don-t-want-peace-over-freedom-we-will-choose-freedom-over-peace-we/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [We will not keep silent, even if the Formula One is taking place. We will protest for human rights and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/we-will-not-keep-silent-even-if-the-formula-one-is-taking-place-we/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) [Explore all 9 Zainab al-Khawaja quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) ## More Bahrain quotes > [May Allah guide us to the good of the kingdom of Bahrain and its loyal people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/may-allah-guide-us-to-the-good-of-the-kingdom-of-bahrain-and-its/) [Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/) > [I am not proud of the King of Bahrain, in whose name people have been killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-al-khawaja/i-am-not-proud-of-the-king-of-bahrain-in-whose-name-people-have-been/) [Zainab al-Khawaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-al-khawaja/) > [Some socialist movements in Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain, for instance, were genuine. I was making films about the so-called Arab Spring, and I'm well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/some-socialist-movements-in-egypt-tunisia-and-bahrain-for-instance/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [“I had to smuggle an early Nokia camera cell phone into the country from Bahrain in 2004. There was a large black market for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/i-had-to-smuggle-an-early-nokia-camera-cell-phone-into-the-country/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [ At least with \[Hillary\] Clinton, you know, there was some degree of transparency. There was some sense of what's going on here, and a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/at-least-with-hillary-clinton-you-know-there-was-some-degree-of/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [“If the Bahreini royal family can have an embassy, a state, and a seat at the UN, why should the twenty-five million Kurds not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-the-bahreini-royal-family-can-have-an-embassy-a-state-and-a-seat/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I am really very fond of Indian classical music though I have spent my teenage years in Bahrain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhura-naik/i-am-really-very-fond-of-indian-classical-music-though-i-have-spent/) [Madhura Naik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhura-naik/) > [ I was in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Bahrain. The first year I went pretty much by myself. Then I went with General \[Richard\] Myers, head… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-was-in-iraq-afghanistan-djibouti-bahrain-the-first-year-i-went/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Bahrain lies at the epicenter of Gulf security and any violent upheaval in Bahrain would have enormous geopolitical consequences. Global economic stability depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/bahrain-lies-at-the-epicenter-of-gulf-security-and-any-violent/) [Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/) > [Look at what the Omar of Qatar is doing, for example - the King of Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain. There are reform movements taking place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carlucci/look-at-what-the-omar-of-qatar-is-doing-for-example-the-king-of/) [Frank Carlucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carlucci/) > [Bahrain is very dear to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/bahrain-is-very-dear-to-me/) [Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/) > [We are not shrinking from talking to Saudis or anyone else in the region, but it is up to each nation in the region…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-are-not-shrinking-from-talking-to-saudis-or-anyone-else-in-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [What is the most entrepreneurial country in the Middle East today? It's Lebanon. Which country has no oil or gas? Lebanon. The same was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/what-is-the-most-entrepreneurial-country-in-the-middle-east-today-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [In a sense there is no 'opposition' in Bahrain, as the phrase implies one unified block with the same views. Such a phrase is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/in-a-sense-there-is-no-opposition-in-bahrain-as-the-phrase-implies/) [Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/) > [The U.S. relationship with Bahrain is obviously more complicated than with Syria and Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-u-s-relationship-with-bahrain-is-obviously-more-complicated-than/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) [Browse all 35 Bahrain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bahrain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want self-determination. If that means having a constitutional monarchy as the first step, fine. But, in the end, people in Bahrain should have the right to vote and choose their president. 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