Reflecting on the GCC Crisis: Qatar and Its Neighbours

The blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt in June 2017 was a surprising political gambit that ended in January 2021 without any obvious instigating factors. This volume examines the puzzle of the blockade and its myriad impacts, offering a range of crisp, insightful reflections based on new primary sources. The chapters take a multidisciplinary and diverse theoretical approach to the crisis, presenting the most rounded analysis of one of the most surprising and impactful events in the contemporary diplomatic history of one of the world's key strategic crossroads.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 17 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In June 2017, a significant diplomatic, economic, and physical blockade was imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt on Qatar, known as the "quartet." This unexpected political move caught the world off guard, particularly Qatari leaders, scholars, and the international community. The quartet accused Qatar of supporting various sub-state actors across the Middle East, leading to the imposition of the blockade. However, many questioned the severity of the punishment, considering the alleged crimes did not warrant such a comprehensive approach.

The blockade lasted for nearly four years, ending abruptly in January 2021 without any apparent triggering factors. This volume seeks to unravel the puzzle of the Gulf blockade and its far-reaching impacts. It builds upon earlier analyses by presenting a collection of insightful reflections, many based on new primary sources. The chapters adopt a multidisciplinary and diverse theoretical approach, offering a comprehensive evaluation of the crisis from various novel angles.

The chapters in this book were originally published in the Journal of Arabian Studies, contributing to the ongoing discussion on this significant event in contemporary diplomatic history. By examining the blockade through a multidisciplinary lens, this volume provides a more rounded analysis of one of the most surprising and impactful events in the strategic crossroads of the world.

Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032157252