The CPD Blog is intended to stimulate dialog among scholars, researchers, practitioners and professionals from around the world in the public diplomacy sphere. The opinions represented here are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy.
The latest round of WikiLeaks carried some bad news for Qatari public diplomacy, in the form of US embassy cables stating that the Qatari government is using Al Jazeera as a political bargaining tool.
The leaked cables, from 2009, claim that Qatar has offered to stop Al Jazeera broadcasts in Egypt in return for Egypt’s cooperation in reaching a “settlement for the Palestinians”. The cables also state that Qatari-Saudi relations "are generally improving after Qatar toned down criticism of the Saudi royal family on Al Jazeera".
The leaks come at a time when Qatar is being criticized for its regression on the media freedom front. The latest Reporters San Frontières report ranks Qatar at 112 out of 178 countries on the press freedom scale in 2010 (compared with 73 out of 173 countries in 2008). And Qatar’s forthcoming media law—the first such law in 30 years—is causing concern about its potentially contributing to further curbs on freedom of speech and reporting.
Al Jazeera has undeniably played a key role in Qatari public diplomacy. Its efforts to push the boundaries of what can be discussed on Arab television have changed the landscape of the Arab media, and forced Arab regimes to pay attention—and by doing so, Qatar has managed to build an image of a mediator in regional politics, and a champion of freedom of speech. But, it is no secret that since its inception, Al Jazeera has engaged in what Marwan Kraidy calls the “anywhere but here” strategy of only criticizing Arab politics outside Qatar. What the cables hint at is a step further in state influence that goes beyond self-censorship of domestic issues coverage. While the US cable sees Qatari-Saudi relations as having improved after a change in Al Jazeera reporting (thereby implying some form of causality), it is just as (if not more) likely that the more favorable Al Jazeera coverage is a reflection of the recent improvement in the countries’ political relationship.
This conclusion appears more plausible when one considers Al Jazeera’s current reporting on the Egyptian parliamentary elections which started on November 28. The channel is offering virtually no coverage of alleged fraud or hard-hitting criticism of the NDP’s curious blanket win. This comes after Mubarak’s first ever visit to Qatar on November 26—widely seen as a sign of a Qatari-Egyptian rapprochement—and merits further probing in light of one of the cables’ highlighting of a "media war" that had taken place between Qatar and Egypt over the Israeli invasion of Gaza in 2009 (and also Al Jazeera’s enthusiastic reporting on Kefaya back in 2005). The leaked cables lead to speculation on whether this reporting change of heart is a repeat of the Saudi scenario, or whether it is part of a wider political deal between Qatar and Egypt.
Qatar is working hard on its international image, and its efforts paid off on Thursday when FIFA announced that the Gulf state would be hosting the World Cup in 2020—the first Arab country to do so. It is also opening the Arab Museum of Modern Art on December 30 this year—following the Museum of Islamic Art that opened in 2008—and is host to a sprawling Education City encompassing branches of American universities like Georgetown and Northwestern University (the latter’s Qatar campus specializes in degree programs in journalism and communication).
The direction that Al Jazeera is taking is a challenge to this image. It is tempting for any regime to have a TV channel at its beck and call, mirroring the regime’s likes and dislikes, and serving as an instant political platform (the United States’ establishment of al-Hurra is a notable example). However, public opinion polls have shown that audiences are not fooled by such tactics (al-Hurra has had no measurable positive effect on the image of the USA in the Middle East). The strength of Al Jazeera as a public diplomacy tool for Qatar lies in its credibility. If that credibility is called into question, Al Jazeera will be perceived as yet another regime mouthpiece among many in the Middle East, and Qatar’s hard work would go to waste.
sabith khan on December 8, 2010 @ 7:07 pm I worked in Dubai as a Public Affairs professional and from experience, know that Al Jazeera is credible, ethical and fearless. But at the same time, there is the question of who owns the network. With the Qatari rulers having investments in the network, it is obvious that they enjoy vast clout.
It is unlike how Prince Waleed bin Talal has no say in running Fox news. Or may be he does ? One never knows what goes behind closed doors as these leaks point out...
yasir on January 29, 2011 @ 2:40 am I worked with Al Jazeera. This is very wel media in the world. It shows all programmes. We will never sleep whenevere we will no watch Al Jazeera TV Programme. Every programmme is new for watcher.
I like if you annouce and rule that all Pakistanis wind up and go back to homeland Pakistan forever within one month alongwith their embassies and consulates due to terreriest and criminal and currepted minds.
Thanks
Naglaa on February 2, 2011 @ 11:05 am my experience is not goo. I used to rely on Aljazeera as a major source of my news until the crises in Egypt when they said that Ahmad Ez escaped and he was still in Egypt. Also when they only showed the darker side of the picture abd dimmed the brighter side. I don't know why they hate Hosni Mubarak and Egypt. They were not honest as they allowed Albaradee to talk as if he is representing egyptians while 99% of the egyptian population is againest him. They also refused to allow a great president of a remarkable history in the Middle East crises to complete his 30 years with degnity and wanted him to leave his country with a scandal which will not happen. I don't allow anyone to play with my mind and I can make the right judgment that's why I am sorry to politely say "Aljazeera speakes of the Qatari prince intentions and express his jealousy of Mubarak, the great Arab leader. No matter what Aljazeera says, Egyptians can distinguish enemies from allies and our Egyptian community ib Qaatar must express that clearly. No wonder, if the quatari prince dide what he did to his father, why not to brother and sister countries. Anyways, I would never take his people with his guilt but i want to remind Qatar if Egypt falls, no body will be able to say arabs have dignity. Simply because this is what our enemies want and what Quatar is helping the enemies achieve. Again as our father, president and hero, Mubarak said, "Leaders go and fade but nations are eternal." Believe me Egypt is to great to collapse and if not she wouldn't have that much enemies. God protects you our leader, our country as well as our people all cristiaans and Muslims equally.
fakroona on February 2, 2011 @ 9:47 pm .....express his jealousy of Mubarak, the great Arab leader.
HA HA HA HA HA HA
SO RIDICULOUS
jalous from a zionist murderer???
he killed more than 300 in one week
SHAME ON YOU NAGLAA
sam lombardo on February 3, 2011 @ 2:52 am Husni Mubarak killed more israelis during 1973 war with his phantom airplanes than any other arab leader. The Qatari Prince over through his father and houses the largest US Airbase in the region as well as the largest Nuclear dump land in the region and he is playing with fire and Aljazeera never criticized the airbase never criticized . He shook hands with Levni and the video is on you tube, Sadat and Mubarak fought the largest tanks battle in history and they won until the American F-14 came and bombed the egyptian tanks, Tel Aviv could have been brought down.
Aljazeera is politically driven wether by the prince or bin hamam who is trying to lead the football world.
All i can say there so many ways to become recognized but qatar way is going to bring them and the region to its extinction.
george on February 5, 2011 @ 1:09 pm iam as a palestinian i want to say to our brothers and sisters in egypt yes you have the right to have democracy but watch good what is going around you is aljazeerah is reliable? in all what they are broadcasting they are broadcasting only the bad news and never the other side i dont think they were fair in telling the story and i think they are making a consperacy against the egypt and the egyptian people ans trying to put oil on fire.so think well before you destroy since destruction is easy but building is too difficult ,wishing you all the best in finding the right discision
sherine on February 10, 2011 @ 12:38 am Thanks Nagla and george, we want him to leave with dignity.
harraz on April 25, 2011 @ 7:33 pm If Arabs and Egyptians in particular don't give credit to Aljazeera network and Qatar for what they did to the collective Arab awareness of issues in the region, history will do. No one can deny what Qatari Aljazeera did to open the eyes of blind folded Arabs in the region and the whole world.
