Qatar: A Modern History - Softcover

Fromherz, Allen J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1626162034 ISBN 13: 9781626162037

Publisher: Georgetown University Press, 2017

Synopsis

What role does Qatar play in the Middle East, and how does it differ from the other Gulf states? How has the ruling Al-Thani family shaped Qatar from a traditional tribal society and British protectorate to a modern state? How has Qatar become an economic superpower with one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world? What are the social, political, and economic consequences of Qatar's extremely rapid development?

In this groundbreaking history of modern Qatar, Allen J. Fromherz analyzes the country's crucial role in the Middle East and its growing regional influence within a broader historical context. Drawing on original sources in Arabic, English, and French as well as his own fieldwork in the Middle East, the author deftly traces the influence of the Ottoman and British Empires and Qatar's Gulf neighbors prior to Qatar's meteoric rise in the post-independence era.

Fromherz gives particular weight to the nation's economic and social history, from its modest origins in the pearling and fishing industries to the considerable economic clout it exerts today, a clout that comes from having the region's second-highest natural gas reserves. He also looks at what the future holds for Qatar's economy as the country tries to diversify beyond oil and gas. The book further examines the paradox of Qatar where monarchy, traditional tribal culture, and conservative Islamic values appear to coexist with ultramodern development and a large population of foreign workers who outnumber Qatari citizens.

This book is as unique as the country it documents ― a multifaceted picture of the political, cultural, religious, social, and economic makeup of modern Qatar and its significance within the Gulf Cooperation Council and the wider region.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

In the span of a few decades, Qatar transformed from a sparsely populated and economically poor backwater into one of the world’s richest states and a key player in Middle East politics. In this groundbreaking history of modern Qatar, Allen J. Fromherz analyzes the country’s rise and ongoing challenges within a broader historical context. Drawing on original sources in Arabic, English, and French as well as his own fieldwork in the Middle East, the author deftly traces the influence of the Ottoman and British Empires and Qatar’s Gulf neighbors prior to Qatar’s meteoric rise in the post-independence era.

This book is as unique as the country it documents—a multifaceted picture of the political, cultural, religious, social, and economic makeup of modern Qatar and its significance within the Gulf Cooperation Council and the wider region.

About the Author:

Allen J. Fromherz is an associate professor of history at Georgia State University. He is the author of several books including The Near West: Medieval North Africa, Latin Europe, and the Mediterranean in the Second Axial Age.

About this edition

• Publisher: Georgetown University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1626162034
• ISBN 13: 9781626162037
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 226