Temporariness and Transnational Ties: The Balochi Community in Qatar

Abstract

This thesis discusses the lived experiences of the Balochi community in Qatar which remains understudied despite the growing literature on migrants in the GCC. The settlement of my older generation Balochi interviewees and their migration into the region was around the time of nation-state formation in Qatar in 1971. With the increase in oil revenues in the 1950s, the migration of people, including Balochis increased. By using data gathered from oral history, ethnographic interviews, and participant observation in my fieldwork, the Balochi camp, where most Balochis currently live, the research provides an overview of the Balochi migration to Qatar, and their current conditions in Qatar in terms of their legal status and transnational ties. The core question that I address in this thesis is: How and why does the legal status of Balochis in Qatar impact their transnational lives? It argues that Balochis form transnational ties due to their temporary legal status in Qatar, which creates a feeling of “permanent temporariness” whereby they have lived in the country for generations but still feel insecure about their legal position. To build stability, Balochis engage in transnational activities, such as buying property in Iran and consolidating relations with relatives through transnational marriage. However, forging transnational connections is a gendered process given that it is mostly Balochi men residents who are forming and consolidating these ties rather than women who are limited by patriarchal structures and gendered roles within the community and the residency policies of the Qatari state.

Date of Award	2021
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science