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The Qatari spring: Qatar’s emerging role in peacemaking

Kuwait Programme on Development, Governance and Globalisation in the Gulf States (2012) The Qatari spring: Qatar’s emerging role in peacemaking. Kuwait Programme on Development, Governance and Globalisation in the Gulf States (24). London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

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Abstract

Once a little-known Gulf peninsula, the tiny, gas-rich emirate of Qatar has in recent years undergone a remarkable transformation to emerge on the global scene as a heavyweight power in contemporary peacemaking. This paper charts the rise of Qatar from a modest pearl-based economy and British protectorate to a gas giant and powerhouse in international mediation. Through a detailed examination of a number of recent peacemaking interventions, this paper asserts that a winning combination of Qatari policy makers’ wealth, will and vision, coupled with the pursuit of three key strategies – political and economic liberalization, independence in foreign policy, and state branding – have permitted the Lilliputian state to carve a unique role for itself as an impartial mediator and bridge between the modern Western and Arab worlds. However, as later sections of the paper explore, Qatar’s recent move to ‘take sides’ during the Arab Spring revolutions may signify a break from this role, and could threaten the reputation of impartial broker which Qatari policy makers have so carefully crafted over recent years.

Item Type: Monograph (Report)
Official URL: http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/programmes/kuwait/home....
Additional Information: © 2012 The Author
Divisions: Middle East Centre
Subjects: J Political Science > JC Political theory
J Political Science > JZ International relations
Date Deposited: 28 Aug 2014 09:48
Last Modified: 15 Sep 2023 22:21
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/59266

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