QATAR MEDIATION STRATEGY: AFGHANISTAN AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Qatar is a small Gulf state located in a critical geopolitical location. It gained its independence in the early 1970s, a time where the Gulf region was going through many incidents such as the Iranian Revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, and the Invasion of Kuwait. The Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, seemed to be aware of Qatar's vulnerability to face such threats due to the size, location as well as the fact that Qatar is one of the least populated countries in the world, which makes it unable to build an effective military to face any possible threats. Thus, the Father Emir, came into power in 1995 and since then, Qatar adopted a proactive foreign policy where mediation is one of its core pillars. Qatar's profile as a mediator began, relying on different soft-power tools aiming to create a national brand for the country as a trustworthy allay. This thesis argues that, the main goal behind Qatar's interest in engaging as a mediator might not be solely to end a conflict but to achieve a specific foreign policy whereby it can face its security dilemma and strengthen its regional and international role.Although Qatar mediated in various cases that has different conditions, this thesis argues that the case of Afghanistan is considered unique in terms of the Qatari role. In order to answer the main research question comprehensively of what makes Afghanistan a different case study in terms of Qatar's mediation strategy, the researcher has built three sub-questions to be discussed in this thesis. The thesis uses qualitative methods to answer the research question. A comparative case study approach is adopted as well to expose the similarities, differences and patterns of the cases where Qatar engaged as a mediator. Furthermore, data were collected through first; the analysis of secondary resources such as previous studies, books, articles and second; semi-structured interviews with officials and experts of the field. The thesis begins by discussing the connection between small states and mediation in general. It then describes Qatar's foreign policy by analyzing the related tools that have helped Qatar become a trusted ally and confident mediator in different complex cases. The thesis also explains five cases where Qatar engaged as a mediator: Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon, Palestine and Djibouti/Eritrea. The thesis then analyzes the main case study, Afghanistan, and sheds light on the Qatari mediation strategy in this case during the period 2013-2022.