Qatar's foreign policy
Qatar has established acceptable policies regarding all conflicts in the African region and made it during the past years the most important of which is the convergence of views between the different parties in the Arab and African region in order to prevent the situation from worsening in any issue or file, but we do not see this as a purely Qatari role, but this comes according to a decree It has by the major countries to highlight its role at the international level. However, it failed to resolve many issues, such as its disputes that have become deferred with neighboring countries and the file of Sudan, from which its south was separated. It did not bring the views closer at the Cairo Conference. Al-Bazzar addressed the role of internal factors and their contribution to strengthening Qatar’s influence. Where he stressed that the reforms undertaken by the President of the State of Qatar have helped to elevate Qatar's position in the international scene, which formed a springboard towards a profitable foreign policy that led to the creation of regional influence for this small-sized country with great aspirations. Therefore, the Qatari foreign policy is based on the foundations, including:
First: the internal components of Qatari policy
In light of the new international changes, it becomes clear to researchers and decision makers that the formulation of external decisions are the results of that clear overlap between internal and external dynamics to an extent that it has become difficult to establish separating boundaries between what falls within the internal policy and what is related to the external practice of the state (1)
This is true of the Qatari model in the reforms achieved by the State of Qatar at the internal level and its quest to build a modern democratic state based on the rule of law and institutions, respect for human rights, improving the status of women and developing economic structures to serve the comprehensive citizen. These are all positive factors that contributed to the success of the State of Qatar In drawing up a distinguished foreign policy in the Arab Gulf region, we can summarize it as follows:
1- Marcel Miller, French researcher, foreign policy, translated by Khader Khader, Gross Press, Beirut, p. 182, 1998. 1- Marcel Miller, French researcher, foreign policy, translated by Khader Khader, Gross Press, Beirut, p. 182, 1998.
1. The political reforms undertaken by the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to establish a modern democratic system constituted a springboard towards a tangible transformation in the Qatari foreign policy, which resulted in the consolidation and consolidation of the State of Qatar’s position in international forums, which qualified it to play an effective and influential role through the adoption of a policy Realism that takes into account international balances, because the other Gulf states repented of playing such a role, and they made many observers of the way the Emir of Qatar managed his country and how this policy led to achieving political stability (1).
2. The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, has made a great contribution to revitalizing Qatari diplomacy and enriching its political presence regionally and internationally. The political reforms led by the Emir of the country have enabled the State of Qatar to have a strong presence on the regional and international arena, and its contributions are tracked in pushing forward the movement of economic cooperation. And the political relationship between Qatar and its international surroundings and from his assumption of power in the country responded to the Qatari diplomatic dynamism in receiving important international promotions, as well as the numerous tours of the Qatari head of state, moving Asia. Qatar and its position among states and their people to play an effective and influential role based on pragmatic diplomacy based on a preference for the language of dialogue and respect for international legitimacy (2).
3. Qatar must adhere to the principles of peaceful coexistence and international cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, common interests, openness to civilizations and interaction with them, belief in the need to respect human rights and commitment to the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means, and that Qatar continues to work to strengthen its position and the role of the United Nations in international relations as a representative
1- Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah, The Political Dimension of Human Development, Arab Future Magazine, Issue 290, April, 1993, p. 99.
2- Abdul Azizin Muhammad bin Jabr Al Thani, Qatar’s foreign policy during the period from 1995-2005, Dar Al Sharq Press, Doha, 2005, p. 12.
International legitimacy: Where does strengthening relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries come at the forefront of Qatar’s foreign policy priorities, in an effort to achieve integration, especially in the economic field, in order to meet the hopes and aspirations of the Gulf citizen (1).
4. When observing the course of Qatari diplomacy during the last ten years, we note how the breaking of the fast has shifted from a newly independent country looking to establish its feet on the international scene to a country trying to have a role at the regional and international levels. International and at various levels to the vision of the rulers of Qatar who have been intensifying contacts in the world through their continuous foreign visits and contacts with officials in various countries of the world and their focus on expanding relations with African, Asian and Latin American countries, as well as deepening relations with Arab countries, European countries and the United States of America.( 2)
Second: Qatari political reforms in the direction of the spread of democracy The GCC countries have witnessed in the past few years important political developments at the level of political reform that are clarified by many indicators, including the holding of parliamentary and municipal elections and the relative development in the competencies of the parliaments in them and the increase in popular interest in the activity of these councils and the positions of these councils Gulf governments towards the issues brought before them, which is evident from the level of participation in the electoral processes through what is published in the various media about these councils, and the opinions of citizens and analysts regarding them (3).
1- Fouad Hamdi Bseisu, Development Cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council Iftar, Center for Arab Unity Studies, Beirut, 1984, p. 120
2- Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, June 23, 2009.
3- Analyzes of Qatari researcher Ali Khalifa Al Kuwari Nah. A futuristic vision to enhance democratic aspirations in the slowest Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab Future Magazine, No. 267 May, 2001, p. 11.
With regard to the Qatari experience, we find:
1. Building the modern state is the main focus of the reform project of the Emir of the state, and the modern state is the state that is able to provide the necessary requirements to deal with the rapid and successive internal, regional and global changes of the era with the efficiency and effectiveness necessary to achieve the goals of society in freedom, democracy, development, security and stability, and then prefer the process of building the modern state as a group One of the requirements that complement each other to form the system upon which the modern state is based, and the most prominent of these requirements is the establishment of a constitution that will be the supreme law in the country and the source of legislation and regulations, and it is a basic measure of the advancement and progress of states (1).
2. The constitution was the beginning of a new phase in the modern history of Qatar for a series of political, social and developmental transformations that the country is witnessing. The constitution came in five lights dealing with the state system, the foundations of governance, the basic components of society, public rights and duties, and the organization of legislative, executive and judicial powers. The permanent constitution includes several basic principles regarding separation. between the authorities and reduce rights, freedoms and political practice. Indeed, Qatar’s adoption of a permanent constitutional system that guarantees rights for all citizens and expands popular participation in decision-making is considered by many as a civilized and historical achievement (1).
3. The State of Qatar has taken many steps on the path to democratization, such as launching the freedom of the media and the press and holding municipal elections with the participation of Qatari women, in addition to many decisions and measures that reflect the real trend towards openness and democratic transformation. Gradual, just as Qatar’s quest for democratic openness stems from the political will of the Qatari leadership and the legitimate ambition of the Qatari people, and this is what made some consider that the future of political reform in Qatar bodes well that it seeks to create an international political image as a modern country(2) .
1- Ali Khalifa Al-Kuwari, a previously mentioned source, pg. 13.
2- Mona Al-Suhaimi Al-Thani, Kitab Al-Watan, Doha, 2003. p. 78.
4. Qatar seeks in the context of the approach of openness and reform led by the Emir of the country, which made its foreign policy based on positive interaction with the international community. The State of Qatar has launched several positive initiatives during the past few years, especially with regard to hosting many international conferences and seminars on development, democracy, human rights and the promotion of human rights. Thus, the Sixth Conference on New or Restored Democracies, in addition to hosting it annually, the Forum for Democracy, Development, and Free Trade, lost the reading of Travat in June 2007, the Second Forum for Democracy and Political Reform in the Arab World, which is in the process of establishing the Arab Foundation for Democracy, the first of its kind in the Arab world. It is based in the city of Doha (2) .
1- Mona Al-Suhaimi, a previously mentioned source, p. 79.
2- An article published in the Qatari newspaper Al-Raya, Tuesday 11/12/2007, p. 3.