Qatar Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East
Fatima Al Karbi
Contemporary Islam and IR
Professor Shadi Mokhtari
Analysis of Qatar’s Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East
Introduction Qatar is located in Arabian Peninsula in boarders with Saudi Arabia, with only 225,000 citizens in a population of 1.7 million. Qatar follows a conservative religious ideology, Wahhabism. While some refer to Qatar as the “ Second Wahhabi Emirate,” it is traditionally known as “the most boring place in the gulf” or “the country known for being unknown (Roberts, 2012).” However, Qatar emerged as a strong state actor with extended networks of alliances in the world. The mediator role that Doha plays today is crucial in the region, particularly after the Arab Spring (HRW, 2013). Indeed, Qatar supported the Arab Uprisings across the region in 2011. In addition, Qatar invested between $65 billion and $100 billion to the FIFA world cup that it will be hosting in 2022. The Emir founded a number of humanitarian projects in Sudan, South of Lebanon, Gaza and Asia. In this paper, I attempt to answer the question of what are the driving motives of Qatar’s foreign policy in the Middle East? And why, unlike its neighboring countries, Qatar’s leadership supported the Arab appraisals of 2011?
Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, stated, “we support those who demanded justice and dignity,” when asked about his country’s role in the Arab revolutions in an interview in 60 Minutes .In response, President Barak Obama thanked the Emir for promoting democracy in the Middle East (Al Thani, 2012). Ironically, Qatar is an absolute monarchy described as an “ authoritarian regime” that is ranked 138th out of the 167 countries by Democracy Index 2011. In addition, the Freedom House lists Qatar as “ not free” (freedom house), (Democracy Index, 2011).” Therefore, Qatar’s lack of rule of law, freedom of speech and political rights contradict “the Emir’s efforts to promote democracy” and delegitimizes his
Contemporary Islam and IR
Professor Shadi Mokhtari
Analysis of Qatar’s Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East
Introduction Qatar is located in Arabian Peninsula in boarders with Saudi Arabia, with only 225,000 citizens in a population of 1.7 million. Qatar follows a conservative religious ideology, Wahhabism. While some refer to Qatar as the “ Second Wahhabi Emirate,” it is traditionally known as “the most boring place in the gulf” or “the country known for being unknown (Roberts, 2012).” However, Qatar emerged as a strong state actor with extended networks of alliances in the world. The mediator role that Doha plays today is crucial in the region, particularly after the Arab Spring (HRW, 2013). Indeed, Qatar supported the Arab Uprisings across the region in 2011. In addition, Qatar invested between $65 billion and $100 billion to the FIFA world cup that it will be hosting in 2022. The Emir founded a number of humanitarian projects in Sudan, South of Lebanon, Gaza and Asia. In this paper, I attempt to answer the question of what are the driving motives of Qatar’s foreign policy in the Middle East? And why, unlike its neighboring countries, Qatar’s leadership supported the Arab appraisals of 2011?
Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, stated, “we support those who demanded justice and dignity,” when asked about his country’s role in the Arab revolutions in an interview in 60 Minutes .In response, President Barak Obama thanked the Emir for promoting democracy in the Middle East (Al Thani, 2012). Ironically, Qatar is an absolute monarchy described as an “ authoritarian regime” that is ranked 138th out of the 167 countries by Democracy Index 2011. In addition, the Freedom House lists Qatar as “ not free” (freedom house), (Democracy Index, 2011).” Therefore, Qatar’s lack of rule of law, freedom of speech and political rights contradict “the Emir’s efforts to promote democracy” and delegitimizes his
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