203. Name: Han UI Shin Title: Al Jazeera as a Qatari Public Diplomacy Tool: Focusing on Egypt during and after the Arab Uprising (The Arab Spring) Institution: SOAS, University of London Country: United Kingdom Date: 2016 Language: English Abstract: This study looks at the way in which Al Jazeera was used by Qatar as a public diplomacy tool, especially focusing on the channel’s coverage of Egypt, during and after the 2011 uprising. The media is a powerful tool for public diplomacy, and is often used by political elites to shape public opinion. Since its inception, Al Jazeera has been used to raise Qatar’s status in the international sphere. With its power to shape the public agenda and its live coverage, Al Jazeera gained popularity and credibility. It has contributed to Qatar becoming a successful mediator in the region. During the Arab uprising, Qatar altered its foreign policy strategy, changing from a mediator to an intervener. Especially concerning Egypt, Qatar publicly supported the Muslim Brotherhood and the government of Mohamed Morsi (in power. 2012-13) during and in the after-math of the uprising, and Qatar’s political interests were propagandized vigorously through Al Jazeera. Consequently, its propaganda not only put Al Jazeera’s credibility into question, but it also became more evident that Al Jazeera was being used as a direct tool of the Qatari government.
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