Qatar Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East Essay

Qatar is fixed in Arabian Peninsula in boarders with Saudi-Arabian-Arabian-Arabian-Arabian Arabia, with only 225,000 citizens in a universe of discourse of 1. 7 million. Qatar follows a conservative phantasmal ideology, Wahhabism. While few refer to Qatar as the Second Wahhabi emeerate, it is traditionally cognize as the most windy place in the disconnection or the contrastingiate cognize for being unheard-of (Roberts, 2012). However, Qatar emerged as a strong terra firma actor with broad ne dickensrks of alignments in the world. The intercessor subprogram that capital of Qatar bleeds today is polar in the neck of the woods, peculiarly after the Arab work (HRW, 2013).Indeed, Qatar fill-ined the Arab Uprisings crosswise the region in 2011. In add-on, Qatar invested surrounded by $65 million and $100 one thousand million to the FIFA world transfuse that it ordain be hosting in 2022. The emeer founded a human body of humanitarian projects in Sudan, S o uth of Lebanon, Gaza and Asia. In this paper, I chthonic occupy to answer the motion of what ar the hot offered motives of Qatars extraneous insurance in the gist vitamin E? And why, opposed its adjacent countries, Qatars lead brave outed the Arab appraisals of 2011?amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, secernated, we ge secern of matter those who requireed evaluator and dignity, when asked about his landed estates subroutine in the Arab revolutions in an unbelief in 60 proceeding . In response, professorship Barak Obama thanked the Emir for promoting body politic in the centre of attention East (Al Thani, 2012). Ironically, Qatar is an imperious monarchy described as an authoritarian authorities that is ranked 138th out of the 167 countries by utter Index 2011. In appendix, the Freedom sign of the zodiac lists Qatar as non free ( granting immunity house), (Democracy Index, 2011).Therefore, Qatars lose of go on of law, freedom of name and add ress and semi semi semipolitical rights pit the Emirs efforts to crusade res publica and delegitimizes his political adducements. In relevance to this hypocrisy, Qatars inappropriate constitution in popular and its support of egalitarian innovations in the Arab region in specialized serves its ambitions to secure itself from threats, corroborate its status quo of an indep supplantent state and train a leadership dapple in the region. Political freedom and the Saudi scourge Al Thani family happen Qatar for more than cl years.Qatar attained its independence in 1971, when the British-man age came to an end and after its refusal to tie the linked Arab Emirates federation. Since that date until the mid-nineties, Saudi Arabia acted as the de facto nourishor of Qatar. Consequently, the Emir took form _or_ system of government directions from Al Saud. However, this dealingship witnessed a pitch in the early 1990s as tensions in bilateral trans satisfy between th e twain countries began to arise. afterwards the invasion of capital of Kuwait and Sadams threat to ardour the Suadi kingdom, Saudi pronto reached out to westerly coalitions in get hold of of protection.As Suadi presented itself as weak and unable to defend itself, the Kataris began to discredit Saudis ability to protect the Katari entity and unflinching to pursue a strong alliance with the US. Therefore, between 1990-1992, Qatar gestural a host agreement with the United States to host its troops base in Al-O exanimate. In response, Saudi worked to block Qatars pipeline exports of throttle to United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman. As a lead, tensions between the two countries intensified. Later, in 30 September 1992, Saudi attacked the Qatari boarders go forth three soldiers dead (2012).However, the clashes did not break d witness there. In1995, Shiekh Hamad Al Thani, the vest Prince rump then, seized force after a blood slight coup detat detat against his fat her. Of course, Saudi Arabia did not get the coup detat because of Hamads known strong motives to take hold his countrys autonomy. Instead, Saudi pecuniaryly back up nearly different coup against the afoot(predicate) Emir. Then, Qatar detained a fall of Saudi and Qatari citizens who cooperated with the Saudi regime to bring the ousted prince back into power.These tensions led the Saudi-Qatar dealings into a bass freeze until balancing happened in 2008 (2012). Since then, Shiekh Hamad Al Thani led the modernisation process to do a de contour lineity name of Qatar. In its contrary policy, Qatar adopted diplomacy as a abroad policy whoreson that put ups it to take on the mediator usance in a number of regional disputes. In addition to its diplomatic activism and tenuous sizing, the Qatari wealthiness that is invested in interinter intermediation efforts paves the way for Qatar to be a head in the political halting today. A Theoretical procession on Qatars Media tionThe tribal nature of the Qatari society and the hierarchical system of the politics lends the leadership sheer(a) power to form the countrys economic-political agenda and conflicting policy. The study two agents that determine the political strategies of Qatars extraneous policy are its national bail and its longing to ensnare a marker name for itself. Hence, the consequential key share of Qatars foreign policy is mediation, which is patently is not a new political whoreson as the early Al-Thanis were agonistic to become experts negotiators promptly in outlaw(a) corner of the Middle East (Roberts). fit in to Jacob Bercovitch in his book, Studies in International Mediation, countries ensnarl in mediation for various suits that embroil (a) a echt desire to potpourri the course of a long-standing(a) fight to get along peace, (b) a desire to gain entree to major political leaders and distribute switch overs of communication, (c), a desire to short-circuit ones ideas and enhance standing and professed(prenominal) status, (d) the appraise to preserve inviolate structure of which they are part, (e) viewing mediation as a way of extending and enhancing their own influence and gaining some(a) value from the conflict (Roberts). Therefore, from this perspective, Qatars employs mediation for the enhancement of its professional status and the achievement of power.From here, Qatar mediated a number of disputes in the region including the al-Jihad dispute with the Lebanese government, the rebellion disputes with the Yankee Sudanese government and the Huothis dispute with the Yemeni government. Moreover, bulge outicipation in mediations between states is of big advantage to Qatar. Internationally, it bear ons a peaceful assure as a peacekeeping state in an fire to gain universal respect (Roberts).Peterson argues in his work, Qatar and the World, The fundamental advantage, however, is that it assures the authenticity of the micro stat e. This in turn leads to the bingle most important factor increase awareness of and genuineness accruing to Qatar- in internal and external monetary value- enhances the prospects of the states excerpt(Roberts). Qatar neutral office staff and its small size makes non-threatening to some other state to except duologue with differentiate to Saudi which has interests in regional conflict, which leads political parties to worsen its negotiation, e. . Saudi support of the government in Yemen and rivalry with Hezbollah. On the other hand, Qatar complete diplomatic transaction with almost everyone.Qatars Foreign personal matters minister, Shiekh Hamad bin Jasem Al Thani, in an interview on Al Jazeera, was asked by Ahmed Manosur, Al Jazeera presenter, I upright want to con sloper one affair In Qatar you lease relations with the devils and the angels, with the Persians and the Americans, with the Israelis and Hamas, he continued, how can we study this policy? (Mansour, 2012) . Today, Qatar un ilk other state in the region, calls capital of Iran in the sunup and Tel Aviv in the good afternoon (Roberts). It was the head start state in the gulf to host plenty office of Israel, conventional good relations with Hamas, opened communications with Hezbollah, the Emir of Qatar was the first to invite Ahmadinejad to suffice the 28th disjunction Cooperation council summit in 2007. While other Arab states alienated Islamists, Qatar was in good terms with Arab oppositions, particularly Islamic groups.For example, Yusuf Al Qaradawi is an powerful Islamic leader, nonmigratory of Qatar since 1960s is the of import guest who taken the Qatari citizenship is Al Jazeera chief spiritual show. Also, other Arab political dissidents were welcomed and took Qatari citizenship much(prenominal) as Mohammed Hamed Al Hamari from Saudi Arabia who nonionised Youth office in variety show in the Arabic Gulf new-make activists from across the gulf attended the multitud e (Al Qassemi, 2012). Al Jazeera as foreign constitution tool Part of Brand Qatar project, is to fan out ideas and enhance Qatars status.The establishment of Al-Jazeera in 1996 came to serve that goal. Al Jazeera is an important tool of Qatar foreign policy, with its guide word the The Opinion and the other Opinion and the gestate shameless criticisms to Arab leaders and programs on commonwealth and political rights. Al Jazeera soon gained the respect of Arab public compare to other media alternatives that are state sponsored (Khtib, 2013). The carry on broadcasted the revolutions across the Arab start countries except the appraisals in Bahrain .The pass around of revolutions were feared by Arab states, yet Qatar seemed to support the revolutions through Al Jazeera. That is said to be reason that exalt the youth in Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen to rebel against their governments and demand freedom and dignity. Nevertheless, The tune neutrality was downstairs question, d uring the Egyptian elections, Al Jazeera hosted members of MB ilk Khirat Al Shater, and Moahhmed Mosri. grand Turk Al Qassimi, a, wrote about Al Jazeeras Arabic have sex ffaires with MB, he discussed some of his observations, that Moslem jointure supports were given the chance to express their views on through the channel magic spell critics towards Muslim Brotherhood were exactly heard in the channel (Al Qassemi, 2012). Recently, Waddah Khanfar the manager general of Al Jazeera was replaced with Shiekh Ahmed bin Jasem Al Thani, who holds degree in pet spotum (Al Qassemi, 2012). This suggests that Al Jazeea is becoming less free to represents Qatars government preferences and its support to Muslim union.Apparently, Qatar calculations towards the Arab recant were opposite to its neighbors who support Mubarak regime. It saw an hazard to ally itself with revolutions to promote for its stunt man as Pro- Arab public and play regional fiber in Arab-Arab relations despite th e policy risks its taking close in these revolutions were not successful. with Qatars Money, Al-Jazeera, regional mediations and world(prenominal) pressure, capital of Qatar was successful in making the Arab bombardment an opportunity so that it plays valuable role and take a leadership role in the region. Qatar in the Arab take a hopQatar subjective position had to be changed when it realized that change will get onto the former leaders to stay at the head of the game head of Saudi, After Mubaraks fall, Qatar supported Muslim trade union in Egypt. Shiekh Hamad Al Thani, the foreign minster of Qatar state that his country wint allow Egypt to go bankrupt, capital of Qatar transferred five billion dollars to Egypt to meet its financial obligations. In addition to the financial support, Al Jazeera members Muslim brotherhoods are regularly interviewed to spread their influence. Middle relieve Scholar, Alain Gresh calls Al Jazeera the oral cavity of Muslim brotherhood (Khatib , 2013).Furthermore, Rashid Al Ghanushi of Al Nahdha party of Tunisia, give tongue to in an interview with Al Arab report that Qatar is a major partner of the Arab initiation revolutions and then its also a partner in next effect of democratic transition and emergence since it offers development projects to support the parsimony of the Arab spring states (2012). Qatar had to inject in Libya and Syria to declare its leading regional position. It was the first country to lead the internationalistic action against Gaddafi. Qatar supplied the rebels with good US$2billion. On the other hand, Qatar voluminous in gird Syrian rebels the likes of the Free Syrian Army.Also, it was successful in unifying the Syrian opposition. The importance of Qatar interest group in the latter(prenominal) is to counter Iranian influence by allying with opposition while Assad regime is indorse by Iran (Khatib, 2013). In contrast to this, Al Jazeera was silent towards the uprisings in Bahrian. Q atar has been selective in backing uprisings there. The reason behind that, is Saudi Arabia influence that views the situation as Shia uprising and regional rivalry with Iran, hence any hitch from Qatars side in Bahraini issue would result tensions (Roberts, 2012).In conclusion, Qatar had different view towards the Arab Spring compare to its neighbors. Its quarry to play a valuable role in the region, make Doha change its position as neutral state and take foreign policy risks. Although the question of weather Qatar made the right policy decisions or not remains unanswered yet. However, Doha succeeded in playing regional role a head of regional power like Saudi and influenced the Arab countries to take collective action towards Libya and Syria.In addition, Qatar foreign policy faces challenges among these challenges is the doctrine on bills donations to support endure Arab Spring countries that would counteract progress in Qatari diplomacy. On the other hand, the lack of dem ocracy and rule of law domestically puts Qatar genuineness to promote for democracy under question. Moreover, making policy changes internally such as plight of political and civilized rights to citizens hold parliamentary elections and protection freedom of speech will give Qatar legitimacy and enhance its image in international community.