Qatar's Foreign Policy: Motivation of Mediation in Sudan

Qatar became well-known for its mediation initiatives during the 2000s. During this period the characteristics of Qatari policy-making included personal engagement of the emir and prime minister, a small circle of elite decision-makers, and the commitment of significant financial resources to affect mediatory outcomes—combined to win the country a growing reputation as a "can-do" actor in regional politics. Qatar’s foreign policy dynamism has been impressive in many respects and this thesis will portray these aspects in detail. This thesis examines the motivation behind Qatar’s foreign policy to engage in state-led mediation in the early 2000s and the impact of these motivations on Qatar’s mediation and peacemaking efforts in the region. The objective is in fact twofold: to increase the understandings of Qatar’s mediation strategies and to identify situations in which Qatar mediation efforts have been more effective. Overall, this thesis examines the policy drivers and dynamics of Qatar’s diplomatic mediation initiatives.

Chapter 1 portrays why third-parties decided to mediate, how conflicting parties accept mediation. Moreover, this chapter looks at what the main factors produce effective mediation by introducing the importance of mediator identity and link that to resources, motivation (why) and strategy (how) of mediator as the critical factors that influence mediation.

Chapter 2 focuses on the question of how Qatar’s leadership has used diplomacy and mediation as strategic tool to increase is international power and recognition. To investigate this question; the researcher will use discourse analysis to discover how Qatar’s leadership is framing its foreign policy initiatives and attempting shape global perception of its rule and urging to consider the traditional assumption that small size equal small influence. In

Chapter 3, the researcher will demonstrate the Qatar mediation in Darfur and their latest developments through assessing their efforts by how they getting acceptance in Darfur conflict, and how they conducting talks that help to establish a degree of trust, manage partners and facilitate dialogue as well as, the economic power that Qatar uses as leverage to bring parties to agreement. Finally, capacity and implementation is the critical phase of conflict resolution. This section illustrates the role of key decision-maker of Qatar in Darfur negotiation and how Minister of state for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Al Mohamoud spent on Darfur conflict. It viewed that Doha Agreement as a historic achievement, a success for Qatar where 36 other actors were failed.