102. Name: Munehiro Anzawa Title: Al Jazeera as a Political Tool within the Contradictions of Qatar Institution: The American University in Cairo Country: Egypt Date: 2011 Language: English Abstract: This study explores three issues regarding Al Jazeera’s relation with its host country, the state of Qatar. The first issue regards the political power wielded by Al Jazeera vis-à-vis its relationship with Qatar. Since the channel’s significant impact on the Middle East and international affairs is disproportionate to Qatar’s global influence, this study argues that Al Jazeera is not merely a media giant but also a powerful player in Arab politics. As a case study for this research, the Qatari-Saudi rivalry and the role of Al Jazeera and the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channels are discussed. The second issue concerns five sociopolitical contradictions of Qatar caused by the diverse set of reforms and policies implemented by the government in recent years. These contradictions include ‘democratization’ as enacted by an absolute leader, ‘modernization’ in the context of a Wahhabi country, an exploding young population and increasing reliance on foreign labor, a controversial relationship with Israel and a reliance on the U.S. for national security. The last issue relates to Qatar’s diplomacy, which manipulates Al Jazeera as an effective political instrument serving its interests and ambitions.
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