Qatar's Strategic Foreign Policy Following the 2017 Blockade

IHSAN TENAYA B W, Dr. Siti Mutiah Setiawati, M.A.

2022 | Skripsi | S1 ILMU HUBUNGAN INTERNASIONAL

This thesis seeks to examine the strategic foreign policy adjustments made by Qatar in response to the 2017 Blockade. The study finds that Qatar's growingly independent foreign policy following the 1995 coup d'etat had the undesired effect of alienating it with its neighbours. This, in turn, would lead to the severance of diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in the event known as the 2017 Blockade. In response, Qatar would adjust its strategic foreign policies through soft balancing and limited hard-balancing approaches; an informal entente with Iran secured Qatar's trade securities, a limited alliance with Turkey guaranteed Qatari sovereignty, and extensive lobbying and diplomatic efforts with the United States sought to de-legitimise the blockade.

This thesis seeks to examine the strategic foreign policy adjustments made by Qatar in response to the 2017 Blockade. The study finds that Qatar's growingly independent foreign policy following the 1995 coup d'etat had the undesired effect of alienating it with its neighbours. This, in turn, would lead to the severance of diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in the event known as the 2017 Blockade. In response, Qatar would adjust its strategic foreign policies through soft balancing and limited hard-balancing approaches; an informal entente with Iran secured Qatar's trade securities, a limited alliance with Turkey guaranteed Qatari sovereignty, and extensive lobbying and diplomatic efforts with the United States sought to de-legitimise the blockade.

Kata Kunci : Qatar, 2017 Blockade, strategic foreign policy, soft balancing, limited hard-balancing