Dr. Mufeed Al-Zaidi / Professor of Gulf Studies – University of Baghdad
The State of Qatar did not have a distinct political or economic position in the Gulf or the Arab region. Until Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1995-2013) came to power in 1995, Doha witnessed rapid changes in various political, economic, security, investment, media, cultural, technological, and sports fields. Giving Qatar a new position in the Gulf and regional arenas, with the growing aspiration and ambition to have a role in the international arena.
Qatar has transformed from a “small state” in the geopolitical concept of the Arab regional system to a state with its Gulf and regional standing, and under its “pragmatic” policy, it has accomplished many achievements and established solid foundations for its influence and position in the region. Observers of Qatari affairs believe that this change in Qatari policy may be considered new in the Gulf system compared to its historical legacy, through an authority that finds that its interest is in carrying out political, economic, and media change; But there is a fact that cannot be ignored, the new government comprehended the geopolitical reality, which is that Qatar is a “small country” that has historical ties to border problems with its larger neighbor, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to its historical and traditional border problems with its neighbor, the Kingdom of Bahrain. It had to be overcome by moving away from the legitimacy of the rule of the “tribal sheikhdom”, to adopting the path of democratic transformation. Which meant dealing with the global technological challenges, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, challenges of the era of globalization, investment use of oil and natural gas resources, strengthening the financial abundance to achieve internal stability and social welfare to support the legitimacy and strength of the regime, the transition to the concept of oil rent, and the redistribution of wealth to citizens in the form of urban and service projects, salaries, incentives, and large loans – that are the highest among the GCC countries. All of that led to a rise in the level of national income, and the transition from the era of the sheikhdom to a political system based on social and economic development.
This study aims to identify the Qatari foreign policy in the use of the Alliance of Civilizations project, as it is one of the tools and means of “soft power” for Qatar amid a turbulent and tense environment, and regional and international actors in a strategic area for the major powers, given its geographical location, its oil and gas wealth, its global trade, its major investments, and its economic opportunities.
First: Qatar and the concept of the Alliance of Civilizations
Communication between civilizations throughout history is one of the prominent elements in the civilizational development of humanity. Civilization cross-fertilization emerged between one civilization and another. The Greeks benefited from the Egyptian civilization, the Romans learned from the Greek civilization, the Arabs benefited from the Roman Empire, and Europe in the Middle Ages learned from the Arab and Islamic civilization. This dialogue between civilizations is ancient throughout history. And it was not limited to one civilization, but extended to other cultures and civilizations, where cross-fertilization prevailed.
The concept of the alliance of civilizations – in the current era – seeks to combat the state of hostility and hatred among humanity and to define common interests between nations and peoples. To achieve the goals and aspirations of these societies, and the mutual knowledge of the owners of the Alliance of Civilizations supports the idea of effective communication in order to develop a common discourse to achieve the goals of the Alliance, and education plays a major role in increasing understanding in order to enable civilized dialogue among peoples, and many methods are manifested in education to combat extremism, And fanaticism, exaggeration, and hatred, whether in religion, sect, race, or nationalism. Thus, education creates an appropriate environment for dialogue, in which the Alliance of Civilizations seeks to take ways to prevent individuals and groups from resorting to extremism and violence, in the face of the repercussions of the clash or conflict of civilizations, which creates a state of fear and instability among peoples in a changing world today.
