Economical and political development of Qatar Essay

Over the past two decades, Qatar has undergone tremendous transformation in terms of both domestic and foreign policy. As a small country that began with a low profile and seemed not to have a major impact on the structure of geopolitics in the Middle East and global arena. But after the events of the Arab Spring, Qatar sudden rise with magnificent progressive with a major player in the Arab world, and in the wider international community. The emergence and rise of Qatar in regional political scene was associated with several factors, including the region has witnessed the power vacuum caused by the effect of diminishing the traditional leading countries. The reluctance of the US to get involved in the affairs of the region provide space for this political vision and political actors to use public diplomacy, mediation and conflict resolution as a powerful foreign policy, Qatar build confidence across the region. These important factors, combined with strong economic indicators, augmented the regional and international visibility, and in return the soft power of Qatar.
Qatar is well known for its foreign policy adventurisms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with critics pointing out that it is 'punching above its weight'. Qatar played a huge role as a mediator in regional conflicts and persistent effort of Qatar's diplomatic and greater international issues. In 2011, Qatar get attraction and attention by neighbourhood countries when participating regional conflicts across the MENA in NATO Intervention-led air operation to overthrow Gaddafi regime in Libya.
The leader behind this active foreign policy former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (1995-2013) who gained power in a bloodless coup in 1995 by overthrowing his father Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani has been a marked with a series of high-profile achievements.
Qatar's geostrategic location has enabled it to emerge as a regional mediator and peacemaker, especially since 2006. Qatar's regional mediation efforts that have included Lebanon, the Palestinians, Yemen and Sudan are emerging from the shadow of Saudi Arabia than an ultimate objective. These efforts, often involving large sums of financial aid aimed at appeasing the different sides, are a part of Qatar's general foreign policy style of branding, regional leader and diplomatic balancing, and creating a distinct regional identity and function. Qatar has also sought a presence and visibility in international arena, including a term in the UN Security Council in 2006-2007 and the infamous Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization, which began in 2001.
Qatar foreign policy runs with a skilful diplomacy by 'playing all sides' , at the same time maintaining relations with the allies as well as with the enemies of the allies. Qatar hosts the US CENTCOM and an enormous US air facility the Al-Udeid Air Base, maintains good relations with Iran, ties a relations with Israel until 2008-2009 during Israeli war on Gaza, and also financially and diplomatically supports the anti-Israel group Hamas. Qatar has sought to play all sides in order to maintain the security both from allies and regional rivals.