Turkish-Qatari Relations: From Past to Present in a Turbulent Geopolitical Landscape

This book examines domestic and regional geopolitical dynamics behind Turkish-Qatari relations from the past to the present. Utilizing arguments of practical geopolitical reasoning, Özgür Pala and Khaled Al-Jaber situate their analysis of evolving relations in the contexts of Ottoman-British geopolitical rivalry in the Persian Gulf, the Turkish Republic’s fluctuating relations with the Middle East until the 2000s, the AKP governments’ opening to the region and finally the Arab Spring and its aftermath. Contextualizing the trajectory of Turkish-Qatari relations within the larger Middle East and the Gulf Arab region, the authors argue that material interests and identity politics have generally determined relations until the turn of the millennium. Under Erdogan and Sheikh Hamad’s assertive leadership and ambitious foreign policy, Turkey and Qatar came to witness various foreign policy convergences on critically important regional issues. Pala and Al-Jaber argue that these convergences, coupled with their geopolitical and security goals, facilitated a political alignment between Ankara and Doha throughout the Arab Spring. They argue that despite facing major geopolitical setbacks, Turkey and Qatar were able to chart a much deeper cooperation, which later evolved into a strategic partnership in various areas.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Turkish-Qatari Relations from the Ottomans to the Present Chapter I: A Brief History Ottoman-Qatari Relations Chapter II: Evolving Dynamics of Turkish Foreign Policy toward the Arab Middle East (1923–1980) Chapter III: Evolving Dynamics of Turkish-Gulf Arab Relations (1980–2002) Chapter IV: Place of Identity and Interests in the Evolution of the Turkish-Qatari Relations (2002–2013) Chapter V: Regional Dynamics of Turkey-Qatar Relations: Foreign Policy Approaches, Tools, and Convergences (2002–2011) Chapter VI: Regional Dynamics Continued: Arab Spring, Changing Regional Dynamics, Geopolitical Aspirations, and the Turkish-Qatari Political Alignment (2011–2016) Chapter VII: Qatari Blockade: From Political Alignment to Strategic Partners (2017–2022) Conclusion: Future Outlook of Turkish-Qatari Relations

About the Author :
Özgür Pala is a lecturer at Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey. Khalid Al-Jaber is the director of the MENA Center in Washington D.C.

Review :
A must-read, thorough and cogent examination of the drivers of Turkey’s foreign policy towards the Middle East and the Gulf Arab sub-region. The authors aptly contextualize the evolution of Turkish-Qatari relations within the security, economic and ideational dynamics that have long shaped Middle Eastern politics. Additionally, the authors weave a cogent analysis of why Turkey and Qatar’s friendly relations swiftly evolved into a security partnership that stood the test of several adversities. A valuable study for the teaching and learning of Turkish and Qatari foreign policy, political alignment and strategic partnership. An important and timely contribution. This book shows how a robust middle power, Turkey, and an ambitious small state, Qatar, can successfully cooperate to wield far-reaching influence on regional politics and security priorities. The authors give a compelling analysis of the main drivers of the current strategic partnership between Ankara and Doha as well as a detailed understanding of intra-GCC rivalries that escalated throughout the Arab Spring. This book also presents great insights into why foreign policymakers decide to escalate and reconcile with their contenders and how practical geopolitical reasoning can prove to be a useful tool in such maneuvering. Very comprehensive and useful book for scholars of Turkish and Qatari foreign policy and for researchers and diplomats who want to have a better insight about recent geopolitical developments in the region. The authors provide a detailed account of Turkish-Qatari relations from the Ottomans to the present and competently analyze the convergence of domestic, regional and global developments which transformed relations from a political alignment into a strategic partnership. The theoretical framework used in this study, i.e. practical geopolitical reasoning, demonstrates how successful management of perceptions is vital in conducting domestic and international politics. A sound analysis of the drivers of Turkish-Qatari relations! The authors have done a great job of examining how ideational factors can become convenient instruments whereby policymakers build, present, and justify foreign policy decisions such as political alignments and strategic partnerships. Apart from providing a thorough historical account of present-day relations between Ankara and Doha, this book sheds ample light on frictions between Turkey and some GCC members as well as deep-seated intra-GCC tensions. This book is the most comprehensive study to date on the Turkish-Qatari foreign policy convergences that has engendered one of the most impactful political alignments taking place in the Middle East in recent decades. The authors first contextualize their examination of Turkey’s relations with the main actors in the Levant, North Africa and the Gulf Arab sub-regions within the seismic regional developments such as the Oil Embargo, Iranian Islamic Revolution and the Gulf Wars. Then, against this background, they build a compelling analysis of the motivations behind the eventual strategic partnership between Ankara and Doha that unfolded during the Arab Spring. Scholars, researchers, and diplomats interested in the Middle East in general and the Turkish and Qatari foreign policy in particular will find this book highly beneficial. The bilateral relationship between Qatar and Turkey has grown immensely in the past decade in political, economic and cultural areas. This book thoroughly captures the unique cooperation between the actors and provides its readers with a comprehensive study of the evolution of Turkish-Qatari relationship from past to present. This is a highly recommended book for researchers and students eager to study foreign policy of Turkey and Qatar, geopolitics of the Middle East and recent political, security and economic developments that will shape the region for years to come. Capitalizing mainly on discourse analysis, this work traces the dynamics of Turkish-Qatari relations from the Ottomans to the present. It is a highly engaging book and a must-read for students, researchers and diplomats who want to have a better understanding of the Middle Eastern politics, especially throughout the Arab Spring, as well as the emerging reconciliation efforts between conflicting blocs within a fast-changing geopolitical landscape.