Qatar and proxy diplomacy: between the gains achieved and the risks involved

Abstract

In a volatile world where international conflicts and tensions have increased, the urgent need for states to pursue peaceful means to resolve these disputes has emerged. From this standpoint, many countries, including Qatar, have sought, through mediation—an approach that constitutes a constitutional commitment stipulated in Article 7 of the Qatari Constitution, which emphasizes promoting international peace and security by working to resolve disputes peacefully—to become a reliable partner in solving the problems of other countries, thus enabling it to gain more prestige, voice, and friends in global politics. To achieve this goal, the Doha government has relied heavily on mediation diplomacy, to the point that the term was officially included in the Qatari Constitution in 2003. In addition, and aspiring to be the “Geneva of the Middle East,” the Qataris introduced the term “preventive diplomacy,” with the aim of replacing the term “preventive war” coined by the Americans. Qatar’s goal in mediation diplomacy was not only to enhance its international standing, strengthen its national identity, and bolster its soft power, but also to preserve its survival as a small state. Given its location in a region experiencing ongoing religious and military conflicts, Qatar utilizes mediation to prevent these conflicts from spilling over into its borders and to neutralize its regional and international adversaries. Qataris also view mediation as a moral imperative, with Qatari officials emphasizing its importance as a moral, cultural, and religious duty, asserting that the Quran commands parties to employ mediation, reconciliation, and compromise to resolve disputes.