Qatar's Strategy for Countering Terrorism: A Human Security Approach

The phenomena of what constitutes terrorism are taking on different forms and seem to be expanding with time. Concurrently, decision-makers are trying their best to defeat it. In Qatar, a constitutional but centralized monarchy, the strategy to end terrorism is not exposed to public, simply because it doesn’t exist. Rather, it is represented in the efforts done by the state on both national and international levels. After a blockade was imposed against Qatar by three neighbouring Gulf States and Egypt in 2017, many Qatari citizens were puzzled and wondered what could motivate these countries to take such a brutal and unexpected action against their nation. The blocking quartet claimed that Qatar supports and finances terrorism. Although the state of Qatar has continuously rejected all such allegations, the blockading countries have not accepted this denegation. This thesis seeks thus to document the strategy of, and efforts made by, the state of Qatar to counter terrorism. It sums up Qatar’s efforts under a strategy of four pillars: Prevent, Protect, Pursue and Empower. The thesis will elaborate on what Qatar has done to counter terrorism within its borders and overseas. First on the domestic front, where a number of reforms and laws which fight different angles of terrorist activities, such as terror financing. Second on the international level, where Qatar has used international cooperation and international participation to counter the roots of terrorism and prevent it from emerging internationally.