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Al-Otaibi, A, 2025. Mediation in the foreign policy arsenal of a small state: the Qatar case study, 1995 – 2023. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.
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Abstract
This thesis addresses the State of Qatar's unique strategy of implementing mediation as a strategic tool in its foreign policy, by analyzing the emergence of this small state and its rise in status in the regional and international arena. Three concepts framed the research: Role Theory, Virtual Enlargement, and Status Seeking, in an effort to answer three pivotal questions: (1) How successful has Qatar been in using Role Theory as part of its foreign policy arsenal when mediating as a small state? (2) What is the importance of virtual enlargement for Qatar’s involvement in international law and mediation? (3) Did status-seeking attribution help Qatar enhance its importance on an international level?
This research highlights Qatar's strategic role as a key and reliable player in prominent regional conflicts, including Darfur, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. Investment in financial resources, non-alignment with any party, and a distinguished geographical location led to Qatar’s success in reaching agreements in disputes that seemed largely intractable and complex, and through them it gained recognition even from global powers such as the United States.
Through interviews with senior Qatari decision-makers and diplomats and detailed case studies, the thesis reveals how Qatar achieved these remarkable mediation efforts that received praise from the international community. While previous studies have addressed Qatari mediation from an empirical perspective, this study provides a unique vision of their mediation strategies, which shows important insights into the role of small states in mediation.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Al-Otaibi, A. |
| Contributors: | Name Role NTU ID ORCID |
| Date: | 2025 |
| Divisions: | Schools > School of Social Sciences |
| Record created by: | Jeremy Silvester |
| Date Added: | 12 Sep 2025 12:40 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Sep 2025 12:41 |
| URI: | https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/54324 |
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