Qatar

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MAKING EXTRACTIVE INVESTMENTS WORK FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: WHAT ROLE FOR QATAR IN SHAPING THE DEBATE ON NATURAL RESOURCE GOVERNANCE?

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Fantu Cheru*

ABSTRACT

At present, emerging economies such as China, are the major importers as well as investors in Africa’s extractive sector. Indeed, they maintain a “stranglehold” on the continent regarding finance for development. Their success in gaining access to the resources of Africa is linked to an effective strategy that combines trade inducements, increased investment flows, aid for infrastructure and construction and technology transfers. With the recent dramatic decline in the price of commodities, and China’s re-balancing with greater emphasis on consumption-driven growth model, growth prospects in commodity-dependent Africa has dampened. Qatar, with its abundant hydrocarbon reserves and US$10 billion foreign exchange reserves, deploys its “soft power” to enable African countries develop their extractive sector fully, industrialize and end China’s financial stranglehold on the continent. Qatar can help develop Africa’s mineral processing industries through public private partnerships and experience. This is because of Qatar’s track record as a sound manager of natural resources. This type of partnership will assist African countries to get more out of their natural resources through valueaddition, and further deepen domestic technological capacity and job creation.

Key words: Qatar, China, Africa, minerals, oil, extractive, development

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v8i1.8

* Professor and Senior Researcher, African Studies Center, Leiden University, the Netherlands Associate Senior Fellow, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

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CONCEPTUALIZING THE QATARI-AFRICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS: THE CASE OF SOFT POWER

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Ben O’Bright*

ABSTRACT

Using a case study approach, this article examines the shifting dimensions of Qatar’s international relations strategies with select, geo-politically important African states, including primarily the latter’s private sector and civil society, and focusing on the current or potential use of soft power in particular. To start, this article presents a comprehensive overview of soft power, including its international relations theory-based historical origins; definitional boundaries; associated tools and mechanisms; and the concept’s pragmatic problems and limitations. Second, the article offers several best practice case studies, including the United Kingdom and China, from which core lessons on soft power development and application can be gleaned. This will advance from a list of seven key lessons that any prospective soft power state should consider. Following this, the article engages in an examination of available evidence outlining Qatar’s attempted soft power action on the African continent and, particularly in Sudan, Somalia, Mali and Tunisia, arguing that it relies extensively on “carrotdiplomacy” or the influencing of others backed by material and financial resource inducements. Finally, five problems and roadblocks affecting Qatar’s approach to international relations will be presented, followed by alternative (soft) power-based strategies, which could be explored by its government and leadership.

Keywords: Soft Power; Qatar; Africa; Sudan; Somalia; International Relations; United Kingdom.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v8i1.4

* PhD Candidate, Dalhousie University and Researcher, Centre on Governance, University of Ottawa.