How a Persian Gulf Backwater Became an International Power Broker

Qatar, an independent state since 1971 and long overshadowed by richer neighbors, raises its profile by taking advantage of global trends. The country of 1.4 million – 200,000 of whom are Qatari – arms Libyan rebels, hosts US Central Command headquarters, shelters Saddam Hussein’s widow, and serves as the base for the Al Jazeera global news network. Huge natural gas reserves enriched the country – it has the highest GDP per capita in the world – but also make it a target for takeover. “Qataris are so wealthy that the majority never have to work, profiting from a law that requires businesses to be majority-owned by a citizen, though foreigners do the actual work,” explains Sonia Verma, writing for the Globe and Mail. The government, a constitutional monarchy, keeps rebellion at bay on the home front and cultivates a studied neutrality. Verma describes Qatar as the “diplomatic center” and “perennial problem-solver in a troubled region.” – YaleGlobal