Al-Jazeera and The Battle for Influence: Soft Power, Media Control, and Geopolitics in the Gulf
Aisha Al-Kaabi is a Senior at Georgetown University Qatar, majoring in International Politics with a certificate in Media and Politics. Her research explores how Al-Jazeera functions as both an independent media force and a strategic tool of Qatari soft power that shapes Gulf geopolitics through its coverage of regional conflicts, political movements, and power struggles.
“Al-Jazeera and the Battle for Influence” dives into how Al-Jazeera has become both an independent media force and a tool of Qatari soft power. By focusing on the 2017 Gulf diplomatic crisis, the study examines how Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt saw the network as a weakining force, while Qatar framed it as a champion of press freedom. Using Joseph Nye’s soft power theory and Piers Robinson’s media geopolitics framework, the research highlights Al-Jazeera’s role in amplifying Arab Spring protests, supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, and shaping narratives around Hamas. The paper argues that while Al-Jazeera challenges authoritarian control of information, its editorial choices also serve Qatar’s strategic interests, making it a key player in Gulf media warfare and a frequent target of censorship.
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Uday Chandra
https://sites.google.com/georgetown.edu/al-jazeeras-influence/home
