The tiny Gulf state of Qatar punches way above it weight. It is, per capita, the richest country on earth. It is home to Al-Jazeera television. It hosts international events, won hosting rights for the 2022 Soccer World Cup, and wants to host a summer Olympics. It is an active diplomatic and military actor, from Afghanistan to Lebanon to its support for the Syrian opposition. This is remarkable for a state smaller in size than Vanuatu or East Timor, and with a population of around 1.8 million – less than 300,000 of whom are citizens.

This public lecture looks at why Qatar is such an active player. It outlines the sources of Qatar’s wealth and the nature of its political system, asking why the elite, especially Emir Hamad and his heir Tamim, who came to power in June, pursue the policies they do both at home and abroad. It shows how Qatar’s wealth, ruling family politics, national branding strategies, and international security
concerns, all combine and influence each other to make Qatar the rich, activist microstate that it now is.

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