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By Allen J. Fromherz
What position does Qatar play within the heart East and the way does it fluctuate from the opposite Gulf states? How has the ruling Al-Thani relatives formed Qatar from a conventional tribal society and British protectorate to a contemporary kingdom? How has Qatar develop into an fiscal superpower with one of many optimum according to capita earning on this planet? What are the social, political, and fiscal effects of Qatar's super speedy development?
In this groundbreaking heritage of recent Qatar, Allen J. Fromherz offers an entire portrait that analyzes Qatar's the most important position within the center East and its becoming local impact inside a broader historic context. Drawing on unique resources in Arabic, English, and French in addition to his personal fieldwork within the heart East, the writer deftly strains the effect of the Ottoman and British empires and Qatar's Gulf pals at the kingdom ahead of Qatar's meteoric upward push within the post-independence period. Fromherz supplies specific weight to the nation's financial and social background, from its modest origins within the pearling and fishing industries to the enormous fiscal clout it exerts at the present time, a clout that includes having the second-highest typical fuel reserves within the zone. He additionally seems to be at what the long run holds for Qatar's economic system because the kingdom attempts to diversify past oil and fuel. moreover, the publication examines the ambiguity of Qatar the place monarchy, conventional tribal tradition, and conservative Islamic values seem to coexist with extremely sleek improvement and a wide inhabitants of international staff who outnumber Qatari citizens.
This ebook is as certain because the nation it files -- a multi-faceted photo of the political, cultural, non secular, social, and fiscal make up of recent Qatar and its value in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the broader area.
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Additional resources for Qatar: A Modern History
Example text
It is possible that the geography of globalization, which has allowed Doha to sprout decadent tropical gardens overnight, could lead to a geography that also overwhelms the minority of Qataris and sprouts those very uncompromising, universalistic, religious or imperialistic ideologies that have been the ruin of many a small, independent state. Nevertheless, it appears so far that Qataris, especially in the ruling class, have lost none of their historic character of diplomatic flexibility, pragmatism and tolerance mixed with a steadfast sense of independence.
In foreign policy Qatar faces challenges and successes. Qatar has a complicated relationship with the West and modernity, even if Qatar may wish it to appear otherwise. Officially, Qatar is a major supporter of the USA and even Great Britain, its former colonial protector. Although Arabic is still spoken between Qataris and Arab immigrants, English is the de facto language of business and development. The population and the media (Al-Jazeera) are much less supportive of the governments of the Anglo-Saxon West.
36 The critical examination of history and neo-traditional assumptions could finally mean the birth of the modern and postmodern Qatari self. We will now introduce some of the central historical myths of Qatari origins and how these myths support current power and social structures in Qatar in ways that obscure history. 37 Until the discovery of oil Al-Thani only really controlled the area around Doha (or Bidaa), a city of about 12,000 inhabitants in the pre-oil period. Bahrain claimed Zubara and other prominent tribes, Al-Naim and Al bin Ali, claimed much of the land to the north and Wakra, the only other significant urban settlement.