Conceptualising Qatar’s Political Economy as a Developmental State

Qatar had emerged as one of the most prosperous countries globally, and it has experienced rapid development in terms of infrastructure, economic growth and the quality of life of its inhabitants. This chapter engages with the political economy of Qatar’s development and argues that it should be understood primarily in political terms. On this basis, it is argued that the nation’s political economy can be best understood through a developmental state approach. Through engaging in the literature on petro-developmentalism, Qatar is currently at an advanced stage, given the overall character of the progress made in its development and diversification. Qatar’s political economy is therefore interpreted as being driven by a developmental state agenda rather than one that is characterised by dynamics seeking to maintain rentier-based power structures.