IDEATIONAL POWER AND STATUS AMBITION: QATAR’S REGIONAL STRATEGY IN THE SYRIAN CONFLICT

Abstract

Qatar’s disproportionately active and noticeable role in the Syrian conflict presents a compelling analytical mystery within international relations, as its behavior challenges traditional realist expectations that small states with real material limitations are structurally constrained to act cautiously, hedge risks, and remain largely passive. While existing scholarship frequently categorizes Doha’s diplomatic activism as opportunistic maneuvering or short-term regime survival tactics, this thesis argues that Qatar’s involvement in Syria reflects a coherent, decades-long regional strategy. Grounded in small state theory, constructivist understandings of state identity, and the concept of “subtle power”, this research argues that Doha intentionally leveraged soft power, ideological alignment, and identity-based diplomacy to elevate its international position while safeguarding its strategic autonomy in a highly competitive Middle Eastern order. Employing a qualitative case study methodology, this thesis examines the Syrian conflict as a critical empirical test of Qatar’s evolving foreign policy. The analysis demonstrates that Doha deliberately utilized non-coercive, ideational instruments, specifically media diplomacy through Al Jazeera, multilateral coalition-building, and extensive humanitarian engagement to shape regional political narratives, project moral leadership, and actively pursue global recognition. Qatar successfully transformed its structural vulnerabilities into diplomatic capital, rather than relying on direct military force. However, the study also significantly evaluates the fundamental limitations and contradictions of this normative statecraft. It reveals that Qatar's identity-driven activism and disproportionate visibility generated severe regional backlash, culminating in the 2017 Gulf crisis, and exposed the rigid boundaries of soft power when deployed in a militarized arena. Ultimately, this thesis concludes that Qatar’s Syria policy was not an anomaly, but a mature, calculated manifestation of its diplomatic advancement. The findings provide vital theoretical implications, illustrating both the transformative potential and the profound structural risks for small states attempting to punch above their weight through ideational influence.

Date of Award	2026
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Islamic Studies