157. Name: Salameh Ayaad Title: Qatari Foreign Policy, Al Jazeera, and Revolution in the Middle East and North Africa Institution: University of Manchester Country: United Kingdom Date: 2014 Language: English Abstract: This study examines the political, cultural, and socioeconomic ramifications of Qatar’s assertive, yet at times, contradictory foreign policy ambitions in the local, regional, and international spheres, since 1995 when new leadership, with new vision for the country, came to power. The research draws particular attention to the commendable launch of the Al Jazeera Media Network, the organization responsible for both Al Jazeera Arabic and its English counterpart. According to many researchers and observers, the launch of Al Jazeera in 1996 represents the Qatari leadership most successful initiative supporting its foreign policy. The progressive and counter-hegemonic reputation enjoyed by Al Jazeera in the Middle East and globally was primarily due to the relatively autonomous and popular editorial policies distinguishing the channel from its state-controlled and elitist counterparts in an Arab world. Whilst the channel’s empathetic coverage of the Arab Spring may have been consistent with the Al Jazeera’s popular approach to covering Arab affairs, this study maintains that such coverage is also congenial to Qatar’s foreign policy. It goes with the state agenda, its national interests, and the role Qatar plays in the region.
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