Small Fish in a Big Pond: Qatar’s Rise to Global Prominence

Ayesha Liaquat

Through the lens of popular schools of thought in International Relations, international system is defined by behavior of great powers, where small states are subordinate. Qatar has challenged this notion. Despite being a small peninsula in Persian Gulf with roughly 3 million population, Qatar has wielded outsized influence due to strategic use of resources, clever balancing between regional powers, mediating in regional and International conflicts, and offering investment opportunities. This exemplify Qatar to cast its active role in international politics.

Qatar’s rise to global prominence is driven by a combination of vast LNG wealth, visionary leadership, and a proactive foreign policy that leverages both hard and soft power.

Qatar’s energy wealth, driven by its vast natural gas reserves and status of 3rd largest exporter of LNG, has transformed the small protectorate into one of the richest nations. Similarly, the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA) managing over $526 billion aim to diversify wealth through global investment in real estate, technology, healthcare, and renewable energy. Its energy expansion in North Field, which is partially shared with Iran, aims to boost Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) capacity to 142 million tons by 2030, with prospects to supply mostly to Asian markets. Strategic investment in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.A. alongside expanding domestic investment capacity aligns with country’s National Vision 2030, ensuring sustainable growth and less reliance on hydrocarbons. These strategic reforms and financial reserves positions it as a major investment hub.

Geographically sandwiched between two regional powers-Iran and Saudi Arabia, Qatar has constantly seized opportunities to balance between them. It has been part of Gulf Cooperation Organization, an anti-Iran alliance, until 2017, when it promptly withdraw from Saudi-led organization.

In retrospect, Qatar supported Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Shia regime of Bashar Al-Assad, feeding to support Sunni-led opposition groups (Free Syrian Army, Al-Sham, and Jaysh al-Islam) during Syrian civil war. However, as one of the largest gas fields is shared between Iran and Qatar, both countries support strong energy ties. Hosting of Hamas, a key Iran ally, is another driving factor in relation. Furthermore, Iran supported Qatar during 2021 diplomatic rift with GCC countries (particularly Saudi Arabia). While, recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran has hampered this presence, challenges persist at nuclear talks, regional proxies, and alleged financing of militias.

By mediating in regional conflicts, investing globally through the Qatar Investment Authority, and projecting influence via Al Jazeera and sports diplomacy, Qatar has challenged traditional international relations theories about small state subordination.

Apart from playing from both sides without fully aligning with one, mediation efforts showcased Qatar’s commitment to regional and international peace and stability. It has mediated high level diplomatic talks between U.S.A. and Taliban in 2020, between Iran and U.S.A. in 2023, ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel from 2023 to 2025, though mediations were stalled for two months, ceasefire agreement between M23 rebel group in Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Qatar institutionalized its mediatory role in 2016 under the leadership of Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani by creating specialized roles such as Gaza Reconstruction Commission. These efforts earned Qatar title of “Switzerland of Middle East” by UN partnerships in Doha, projecting an active image in regional politics.

Soft power, according to realist notion, is most accessible instrument of power projection. Qatar has leveraged soft power instruments to elevate its global presence through sports, culture, broadcast media, and humanitarian efforts. In sports diplomacy, Qatar hosted 2022 FIFA World Cup, a landmark event that drew millions of visitors and showcased its ability to manage large-scale international gatherings. Beyond football, an annual tennis tournament is hosted in the country, attracting global players. On cultural fronts, Qatar has invested heavily in Qatar’s museums, promoting cultural heritage. Additionally, Education City in Doha houses branches of Georgetown and Northwestern universities, fostering academic exchange and putting Qatar to the center of learning and innovation. Finally, humanitarian efforts further elevated its global image such as substantial humanitarian aids to conflict zones like Gaza and Ukraine where it has funded reconstruction programs and humanitarian aid for refugees, and development initiative for poorer nations in Africa and Asia, has cultivated a generous image of Qatar.

Al-Jazeera is another significant instrument of power projection. The broadcast media with access to over 150 countries, reaching more than 430 million households worldwide, its influenced peaked during Arab Spring, where its extensive coverage mobilized public sentiment across the region. Furthermore, the coverage of Gaza conflict has further raised its reach influencing masses within and abroad. However, the news agency faces bans within Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Iraq, Sudan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority over the accusation of bias and instigating instability.

While, Qatar has successfully projected its image, challenges lie ahead to future of its foreign policy implementation. Failed instances of mediation efforts particularly mediation between Israel-Hamas conflict and emergence of Egypt as regional mediator has casted light to Qatar’s diplomatic limitations. One of another failure it faced was intense public scrutiny over human rights abuses during FIFA World Cup, including unpaid wages, unsafe conditions, thousands of alleged deaths, backlash over LGBTQ+ community, and free speech restrictions. Geopolitically, the 2020 diplomatic crisis between Qatar and GCC states, particularly Saudi Arabia, caused economic strain on Qatar, leading to injection of $32 billion to stabilize its economy. Furthermore, hosting Hamas and support to militias in Middle East has fueled perception of impropriety supporting terrorism in Middle East. Finally, the corruption allegations during FIFA World Cup and the Qatar-gate scandal of alleged involvement in influence peddling in European Union and Israel, further fueled the perception of impropriety. As Qatar seeks to solidify its place in world stage these challenges exist to limit the effectiveness of such small state.

Despite its successes, Qatar faces challenges from failed mediations, human rights controversies, and regional rivalries, underscoring the complexities small states encounter in sustaining global influence.

The small states need multiple sources for nation branding. Qatar’s rise to global prominence exemplifies how a small state can leverage strategic resources, diplomacy, and soft power to wield outsized influence in international politics. Through its vast energy wealth, managed by the Qatar Investment Authority, and ambitious projects like the North Field expansion, Qatar has secured economic stability and global investment. Its skillful balancing between regional powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia, coupled with mediation efforts in conflicts such as U.S.-Taliban talks and Hamas-Israel ceasefires, has positioned it as a key diplomatic player, earning it the moniker “Switzerland of the Middle East”.

Soft power instruments, Al-Jazeera’s global reach, hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, cultural investments, and humanitarian aid, have further elevated Qatar’s international image. However, challenges such as failed mediations, human rights controversies during the World Cup, diplomatic rifts with GCC states, and allegations of impropriety underscore the limitations of its approach. For small states like Qatar, effective nation branding requires a multifaceted strategy, combining economic prowess, diplomatic competitiveness, and soft power projection, while navigating geopolitical complexities and addressing domestic and international criticisms to sustain global influence.

The Author studies Great Power Politics, emerging blocs and shifting global alliances, focusing on how power transition impacts international security and global stability.