Qatar's quest for multilateralism : a panacea for economic development ?

This thesis studies the concept of multilateralism in a globalizing world, with a specific focus on its changes in a new world order. Increased, unorthodox and multilateral spaces, such as South- South cooperation, have given small states an increasing economic and political power. This is shown through the emergence of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries, a group of developing or industrializing states who have increased their economic, cultural and political relations with other developing and industrializing states and developed states as well. They have set a model for Qatar to emerge as a soft power, using tactics of cooperation and persuasion to advance its interests in the global arena. Strengthening multilateral institutionalism and regionalism will enable Qatar to reach the same level of development as the BRICS.