Genealogy of Qatar’s Developmentalist Foreign Policy: Presenting a Model of Governance in Contemporary Islamic Political Thought (1995–2025)

The purpose of this research is to examine the transformation of Qatar's foreign policy from a conservative, security-oriented approach to active and development-driven agency. This transformation does not appear to be merely a change in diplomatic tactics or a response to regional structural developments, but rather a reflection of a broader project at the level of identity and thought—a project aimed at redefining the concept of the "modern Muslim state" and presenting a model of governance consistent with the logic of development and globalization. The starting point of this transition must be sought in 1995, with the transfer of power from Sheikh Khalifa to his son, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. This transfer was not just a political change, but a rupture in the intellectual orientation of Qatar's leadership. The new Emir, with a pragmatic and modernist vision, sought to bring the small, wealthy country of Qatar out from under the heavy shadow of Saudi Arabia and redefine it within a new framework of regional politics. From this point onward, Qatar's foreign policy was based on three main components: economic developmentalism relying on gas resources, media diplomacy through the Al Jazeera network, and selective support for moderate Islamist movements, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. This combination allowed Qatar both to project an image of a modern, successful state and to establish itself as a supporter of a type of moderate Islamism. Using James Rosenau's "linkage" model, this research shows that the evolution of Qatar's foreign policy is the result of the simultaneous interaction of five levels of analysis: the individual characteristics of leaders, their role and position within the power structure, the characteristics of the governance system, the country's social and ideological context, and finally, the pressures and opportunities of the international environment. At the individual level, the personalities of Sheikh Hamad and, after him, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad play a decisive role. Unlike traditional leaders of the Persian Gulf, they adopted a rational, pragmatic, yet simultaneously ideological approach. Their goal was not merely security and survival, but building a global image of Qatar as a pioneering, development-oriented Muslim country. At the governmental level, the concentration of power within the Al Thani family and the absence of powerful opposing institutions enabled rapid and unified decision-making. Such a structure became the link between the Emir's individual will and the state's macro-objectives, transforming foreign policy into an efficient tool for realizing the national developmentalist project. At the social and ideological level, Qatar has drawn from two main sources: enormous wealth from oil and natural gas exports, and a particular tendency towards the discourse of the Muslim Brotherhood. A moderate, pragmatic interpretation of the Brotherhood's discourse, emphasizing the connection between religion and progress, offers a model of "effective Islam" that aligns with the mindset of Qatar's rulers. On the other hand, oil and gas wealth provided the material means to implement ambitious, costly, and development-oriented policies—from establishing the Al Jazeera network to global investment and hosting international events. In this way, Qatar was able to institutionalize a specific type of moderate Islam within the framework of its developmentalist foreign policy and present an image of modern, global Islam. At the international level, this transformation has emerged from complex geopolitical equations. By maintaining a US military base on its soil and participating in Western security arrangements, Qatar relatively secured its own safety while simultaneously using this position to increase its regional influence. At the same time, the ideological rivalry with Saudi Arabia over the interpretation of political Islam became a primary driver of Qatar's foreign policy. In contrast to the conservative, authoritarian reading, Qatar sought to present a face of moderate, dialogue-oriented, media-savvy, and development-oriented Islam. This rivalry not only intellectually distinguished Qatar from Saudi Arabia but also transformed it regionally into an actor with a cultural and ideological mission. The findings of the paper indicate that Qatar's developmentalist foreign policy should be understood as a form of "soft power of a Muslim country"—power exercised not through force and coercion, but through symbolic capital, media, education, investment, and cultural diplomacy. Through global branding by hosting events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup, investing in scientific and cultural centers, and supporting reformist discourse in the Arab world, Qatar has sought to simultaneously increase its international and Islamic legitimacy. Thus, Qatar's foreign policy has become a tool for constructing a new identity in which Islam is seen not as an obstacle to development but as an important factor enabling it.