This episode of The IR thinker explores Qatar’s soft power with Ariel Admoni, examining its role as a mediator in the Middle East, the leverage derived from energy exports, and the use of culture, education, real estate and global media to project influence. The conversation also looks at Qatar’s foreign aid strategy, the legacy of hosting the World Cup, the significance of Al Jazeera, and under-researched aspects of Qatari soft power on the regional and global stage.
Ariel Admoni is a PhD candidate at Bar-Ilan University in Israel whose research focuses on Qatari politics and Qatar’s role in international relations. He has published on these themes in journals such as Contemporary Review of the Middle East, Middle East Policy and the Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
Publications:
Same reasons, different outcomes: Qatar’s policy on Israel up to 1996
Peace Is Relative: Qatar and Agreements with Israel
Political antisemitism: Qatar’s attitude towards Jews and Israel
Order from Above: The Evolvement of Elections in Qatar
Content
00:00 - Introduction
01:43 - Qatari Regime Overview
03:35 - Qatar’s Mediation in the Middle East
07:58 - Sources of Qatari Negotiating Power
12:06 - Emir Family vs. Diplomatic Corps
13:48 - Qatar’s Foreign Aid Initiatives
16:37 - Evaluating Qatari Foreign Aid
18:40 - Influence of Qatari Energy Exports
22:40 - Energy Deals and Soft Power
25:20 - Long-Term Relevance of Qatar’s Energy Impact
27:09 - Qatar’s Renewable Energy Impact
28:35 - Real Estate Investment in Soft Power
33:09 - Culture and Education in Qatar’s Strategy
36:37 - Qatar’s Soft Power: Domestic and International
38:15 - Success of Qatar’s Educational City Project
40:49 - Impact of Hosting the World Football Championship
47:08 - Al Jazeera TV and Qatar’s Soft Power
51:59 - Analysing Al Jazeera’s Role
55:36 - Qatar’s Influence in International Institutions
01:01:16 - Qatar’s Mediation Between Israel and Hamas
01:06:50 - Under-Researched Areas of Qatari Soft Power
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