Digital Echoes of Diplomacy: A Comparative Study of Informal Politics and Media Influence in the Gulf Region
Moza Al Thani is a second-year Georgetown Qatar student majoring in International Politics. Her research interest centers on international affairs and diplomacy, particularly in the Gulf region’s evolving political landscape. Below is the abstract of her project:
The landscape of Gulf diplomacy is witnessing a paradigm shift, where ex-politicians leverage televised interviews and digital media to sculpt public opinion post-office. This paper examines how figures like Prince Bandar bin Sultan and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim utilize informal political discourse to maintain influence within regional geopolitics. By blending media analysis with international relations theory, Al-Thani explores the intersection of traditional diplomacy and digitized media communication—coined “Digital Echoes of Diplomacy.” The paper evaluates the emergence of ‘Majles Diplomacy’ in the digital realm, where intimate and candid discussions traditionally reserved for private settings are broadcast to a global audience, reshaping the narrative of the Gulf’s diplomatic history and current affairs. Through content analysis of various media platforms, including Al-Jazeera and SHASHA, the study reveals how media portrayals construct a ‘down-to-earth’ persona for these diplomats, creating a paradoxical blend of approachability and unaccountability. The case studies of Prince Bandar’s interviews and Sheikh Hamad’s “The Black Box” series illuminate the nuances of backchannel diplomacy, offering insights into the pervasive impact of media on the public’s diplomatic and political consciousness. Al-Thani’s work contributes to understanding the media’s role in modern diplomacy and prompts a discussion on the power dynamics at play in shaping historical and political narratives.
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Mohamed Zayani
