Given the regional upheavals of the Arab Spring and the changing geopolitical dynamics in its aftermath, this study found that a contemporary revision of the theory of subtle power was necessary to better explain Qatar’s foreign policy strategies. This explanation of the four elements of late subtle power follows the analysis of the impact that Qatar’s role during the Arab Spring and the blockade had on Qatar’s relations with Saudi Arabia, an impact whereby its autonomy from Riyadh touched either end of the pendulum—from fearing invasion on the day of the blockade, to an emboldened nation state politically emancipated once again several months later. This final chapter introduces and elucidates the four elements of what this book terms as late subtle power, a revision of Kamrava’s original theory in a new era whereby Qatar could no longer ‘exercise influence from behind the scenes’. Whilst each of the four elements have retained their nomenclature, they have had to (re)adapt, and have since become overt and competitive in response to Qatar’s past foreign policy actions, its growing prominence regionally and internationally, and other external forces and pressures.

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The Elements of the Theory of Late Subtle Power

  • Matthew Merrington

摘要

Given the regional upheavals of the Arab Spring and the changing geopolitical dynamics in its aftermath, this study found that a contemporary revision of the theory of subtle power was necessary to better explain Qatar’s foreign policy strategies. This explanation of the four elements of late subtle power follows the analysis of the impact that Qatar’s role during the Arab Spring and the blockade had on Qatar’s relations with Saudi Arabia, an impact whereby its autonomy from Riyadh touched either end of the pendulum—from fearing invasion on the day of the blockade, to an emboldened nation state politically emancipated once again several months later. This final chapter introduces and elucidates the four elements of what this book terms as late subtle power, a revision of Kamrava’s original theory in a new era whereby Qatar could no longer ‘exercise influence from behind the scenes’. Whilst each of the four elements have retained their nomenclature, they have had to (re)adapt, and have since become overt and competitive in response to Qatar’s past foreign policy actions, its growing prominence regionally and internationally, and other external forces and pressures.