CIAO DATE: 03/2013
February 2013
Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre
This policy brief examines the policy drivers and dynamics of Qatar’s diplomatic mediation initiatives. It demonstrates how mediation lies at the heart of Qatari foreign policy and represents an attempt to mark Qatar as an independent and progressive international actor. It charts the rising trajectory of Qatari diplomacy since the present emir came to power in 1995. During this period, Qatar assumed positions of leadership in regional and international bodies before taking up a two-year rotating seat on the UN Security Council in 2006. Beginning in 2007, Qatar mediated in political and civil conflicts in Yemen, Lebanon and Darfur, and the policy brief assesses the strengths and weakness of the country’s record. Strengths included the high-level personal engagement of the emir and prime minister, and the commitment of significant financial resources to affect mediatory outcomes. However, these were offset by weaknesses such as the lack of a large professional diplomatic corps to translate initial engagement into the sustainable implementation of agreements. The policy brief ends by considering the implications for Qatari policy arising from the shift from regional mediation to active interventionism in Libya and Syria in the wake of the Arab Spring.
Resource link: Qatar's mediation initiatives [PDF]