al diplomacy issue 9

Issue 9 - March 20141

Editorial

Over the past two decades, several international organizations, institutions and research centers have come up with a number of international indicators to aid in assessing political, economic, social, environmental and institutional performance. These indicators have come to be used to classify countries on a ladder of developmental evolution.

Among such indicators we find those that assess the performance of whole states, in various aspects of political and social-economic activity, and these have taken on enhanced importance with both international bodies and the media. One such example is the Failed States Index, which uses a number of metrics to rank the states ,according to their legitimacy, the level of public services they provide, the demographic pressures they face and the human rights they honor.

A failed state, according to the index, is a state that cannot control its own territory and more often than not resorts to force in settling conflicts and disputes. Failed state governments, in a word, fail to take effective decisions in areas of policy, economy and the provision of services to people. Further defection to deal effectively with the international community are often indications of unsuccessful government, often accompanied by corruption and high crime rates. Failed states are those that cannot perform basic functions, such as providing education, security or governance.

The Failed States report, published annually by the Institute for Peace in cooperation with the magazine Foreign Policy, uses 12 different indices to determine the rank of any state in the failure order; and so presents its assessment based on quantitative data.

The importance of the index’s methodology is key, as it must distinguish between the difficulties and pressures faced by all countries, and the moment from which these difficulties and pressures start pushing a state on a dangerous slope. The indices are based on a statistical estimation program called the Conflict Assessment Software Tool (CAST), which is owned by the Fund for Peace - an organization which seeks to prevent war and the causes that lead to the outbreak of armed conflicts. CAST analyzes millions of documents and data every year from primary sources fed into it. Through advanced search parameters and algorithms, the software can identify relevant data and use twelve social, economic and political primary criteria (each of which is divided into 14 sub-criteria) in analyzing the information collected.

Using various algorithms, data is converted into scores for each state which denotes the gravity of specific situations. For example, security concerns, low levels of services, conflicts, natural disasters and other data all combine to form a numerical indicator. The failed state, then, in this context, is the one that cannot perform basic functions such as the provision of educational services or respond to even more basic needs for security and governance.

The Failed States Index for 2013 has ranked Qatar in the most convenient position among Arab countries, corresponding to 143rd out of 178 nations on the global scale. This ranking also puts Qatar within a group of fifteen, classified as stable, namely: Costa Rica, Latvia, Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Estonia, Slovakia, Italy, Mauritius, Spain, Lithuania, Malta, Chile and Poland.

There is no doubt that the distinctive position occupied by the State of Qatar in the Failed States Index for 2013, reflects the great attention given by the government to public services, especially security, education, health and employment. The effort made by the State in the promotion of human rights and institutions, the rule of law and the freedom of media have also played their part in achieving a balanced economic development throughout the State. One should also highlight the high rate of investment and the State’s trade partnerships around the world, as well as the stability of the exchange rate. Additionally, the adoption of the new residency policies will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the country, reflecting positively on improved arrangements in future index reports.


MOFA Celebratingthe Sports Day

10

ContentsEditorial

Qatar.. A Haven for the DeprivedMore than 110 countries around the world receive aid from Qatar

Qatar: Diplomacy of Powerful Will

With Participation of H.E Foreign Minister of Qatar, Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, and More Than 2000 DiplomatsMOFA Celebrating the Sports Day

MOFA Hosted First Arab Regional Conferenceand Exhibition on South-South Cooperation

Emir Abdelkader El Djezairi

Spotlight: Organization for EconomicCo-operation and Development

Failed States Index 2013

WHY ARE THERE RICH AND POOR COUNTRIES?The Cases of Qatar and Bolivia

Virtual Space… New Battlefield

The Myth of America’s Decline

From the Institute Publications: Life is Negotiation

From the Political Dictionary

Quarterly magazine published by the Diplomatic Institute Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Issue 9 - March 2014

General Supervisor:

Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-AttiyahMinister of Foreign Affairs

Editor in Chief:

Dr. Hassan bin Ibrahim Al-MohannadiDirector of the Diplomatic Institute

Publisher:

The Diplomatic Institute

For more information please contact us:

State of Qatar - DohaP.O.Box : 250Tel. : (+974) 40112500Fax : (+974) 40112511

Email:

[email protected]

Website:www.di.mofa.gov.qa

- All correspondence on behalf of the Editor in Chief

- Published articles reflect the views of writers and do not necessarily reflect the considerations of the magazine

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Follow-ups

Follow-ups

Follow-ups

Follow-ups

Public Figures

Spotlight

Reports

Articles

Articles

Book Review

Publications


15 MOFA Hosted First Arab RegionalConference and Exhibition onSouth-South Cooperation


In most cases, Diplomacy and Foreign Policy are vague concepts and hard for the layman to understand their underlying procedural implications. For they may not lead to direct material results in such manner that enables one to find a connection between the concepts and the current events. However, when it comes to our diplomacy and foreign policy, this hypothesis is hardly valid. On the contrary, the effective activity of the Qatari diplomacy and foreign policy, witnessed in the world along the last decades, indicates that its key-feature is the ability for changing the course of action and ensuring significant interests and benefits on the national, regional, Islamic and human scales. That is not because Qatar is a big power, but rather because its diplomacy has a solid and flexible will for action.

Qatar:Diplomacy of Powerful Will

Wisdom requires fighting stereotypes There are numerous stereotypes about diplomacy

and diplomatic life, sometimes promoted by the diplomats themselves, to an extent that affects the public understanding of the nature of their work. While, considering the image and branding of Qatar and its distinctive status on the international arena, it becomes clear that this diplomacy is on the right track, making unequivocal achievements. The message has been overtly straightforward with a clear vision. The rationale supporting our mission in the Qatar Foreign Ministry was outward: we have to work firstly on changing some stereotyping percepts, in order to introduce an advanced, constantly up to date model for action and productive outcomes obtained through optimizing national, Arabic, Islamic and human interests.

Assuredly, the Qatari diplomacy appears to tailor some of the most paramount decisions taken today for the optimization of the national interests. It also designs the basic conceptions for the decisions intended to achieve the

overall goals in dealing with other countries, regionally and worldwide. Indeed, geographically and demographically, Qatar is a tiny state. Yet, thanks to its wise and reliable leadership, the wealth God bestowed on this country, and its right use, Qatar became a political pole with a position no less important than bigger states. Today, it provides the principles of a new theory in the effective diplomacy, or what may be called “diplomacy of the powerful will”.

Qatar Diplomacy:Effectiveness and swift action

In the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, there is no place for the word “delay” in our journey to achieving our ends. We never stagger while serving our interests. Our diplomacy is always characterized with effectiveness and rapid action upon assuming our national missions and tasks. At the same time, it shows a good deal of discretion in approaching and tackling the regional and international issues and dilemmas, which is the product of society deeply rooted in its civilization

Follow-ups

8Issue 9 - March 2014

4

Follow-ups

During the four past decades, Qatar has continued to extend support and aid to various developing countries, especially the poor ones, in order to help them enhance their development level and provide various services to their people. Development assistance and humanitarian aid have been major factors of the Country’s foreign policy outlook, reflecting the enhanced emphasis placed on international cooperation by Qatar National Vision 2030: “contribution towards international peace and security through political initiatives and developmental and humanitarian assistance”.

Qatar.. A Haven for the DeprivedMore than 110 countries aroundthe world receive aid from Qatar


15

The Foreign Ministry hosted a conference and exhibition for the first Arab Regional Development based on cooperation with countries of the southern hemisphere. The Ministry hosted the Conference and Exhibition for the first Arab Regional Development based on

South-South cooperation between the 18th and 20th February. The event sought to provide a platform for the harmonization of the capabilities of solution providers with those of researchers to offer an exchange of practical experience among nations of the South.

MOFA Hosted First Arab Regional Conference andExhibition on South-South Cooperation

Follow-ups

15



The Failed States Index Report has been published since 2005 in Foreign Policy, a journal of international politics, in cooperation with the Global Peace Fund, an independent research body. The report defines a failed state as one that cannot control its own territory, resorts readily to force and often fails to take effective decisions. Failed states often demonstrate an inability to provide services for their people and are plagued with high rates of crime and corruption. The report is based on the evaluation of twelve social, economic and political indicators, comprising

data from tens of thousands of sources, such as international media, local print and audio-visual material, articles, interviews, surveys and opinion polls. Evidence from local and international NGOs as well as government documents and independent studies conducted by consultancies, financial firms and universities are also included. The index is calculated using the following factors:

Reports


28

WHY ARE THERE RICH AND POOR COUNTRIES?

The Cases of Qatar and BoliviaHugo Guiliani Cury *

* Dominican Republic Ambassador to the State of Qatar

Articles

28


Follow-ups

With Participation of H.E Foreign Minister of Qatar,Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, and More Than 2000 Diplomats

MOFA Celebrating the Sports Day Dr. Al-Attiyah: We Intend to Increase Awarenessof Importance of Sport and its Role in Individual Life

10


Spotlight:

Organization for EconomicCo-operation and DevelopmentIt is a Paris-based international organization, sometimes referred to as “club of the

rich”. Its members are the developed countries committed to the exemplary principles of democracy and free market economy.

Spotlight

23


The Myth ofAmerica’s Decline

Author: Josef Joffe (Stanford University Press)

Published: November 2013

Publisher: Norton & Co.

The publisher-editor of the German weekly Die Zeit points out in his new book “The Myth of America’s Decline” that the United States has been pursued for much of its history as a superpower by warnings of impending doom. His primary concern is to comment on in-vogue expressions of fast-approaching Chinese superiority over the United States. The writer explains why predictions of such a decline are largely wrong. There is a lack of a solid underlying logic, he argues, when it comes to assuming the collapse of the United States, as has been repeatedly shown in various historical contexts.

Book Review

Periodic Fantasy of America’s Doom The book consists of six chapters which detail the author›s

refutation of those who allege the US is on the verge of collapse. In the first, he deals with five historical periods in which expectations of American defeat were shown to be premature. The first occasion goes back to the struggle with the Soviet Union in the fifties, and the fear that infected Americans during the Cold War regarding the prospects of victory over Communism. Next, and as the US marinated in Vietnamese mud during the sixties, voices once again

predicted that the country was in dire need of time to recover from the war’s effects. America faced even bigger problems during the seventies, from oil embargoes to hostage crises. However, all such problems were overshadowed by the idea of Japanese economic superiority in the eighties, leading to a belief in Japan›s ability to end the United States claim to being a super-power. As everyone knows, that era ended with the deterioration of the Japanese economy at the beginning of the nineties. The author then begins to address the topic of China, discussing the points raised when comparisons are made between the two nations.

Book Review


38

Life is Negotiation"Life is Negotiation," is the Diplomatic Institute’s 2014 first publication,

issued as part of its program of studies for this year. The research, authored by Dr. Saeb Erekat, details the art of negotiation clearly and concisely, using a variety of examples. As life may well be negotiation, as far as humanity is concerned, this study seeks the common factors allowing cooperation to prevail on discord, considering that negotiation is not a tool of last resort, but rather is a necessity.The study is divided into seven chapters, which in turn are subdivided.

From the Institute:

The first chapter begins with an attempt to answer the questions: is negotiation a science? Are all of us part of negotiating groups? Then it tackles negotiation as a necessity of life, with whatever falls within its scope, forms, stages, nature and types. In the second part of the same chapter, the study addresses mediation and the key to its success, illustrating what might be included in the mediation process and the duties the mediator should perform to ensure success.

The second chapter focuses on a systematic study of negotiation and the role of mutual self-interest in its pursuit. The first part of this chapter deals with the creation of common ground. The second part is devoted to the ends rather than the means of the negotiation process, highlighting the necessity of identifying the problem and the methodology by which interests and attitudes might be distinguished.

Chapter three deals with the preparation for negotiation, revealing how preparation remains an ongoing process evolving along with negotiation. The chapter also suggests how one might attempt to identify a "critical point" in talks, as well as removing negative personality traits and constrictive patterns of thought, whatever the circumstance.

In the first part of the fourth chapter, attention turns toward setting up the negotiating team and team-methodology, the importance of setting negotiation targets and how to set the agenda. Identifying a hypothetical realm that permits the distinction between the ephemeral and the real, the chapter proposes how to get to truth and transcend assumption. In this way, access to knowledge, information and scientific research prove a basis for negotiation. The second part of the fourth chapter is concerned with the beginning of negotiation and its levels, the responsibility of the negotiator and the theory of need. The third part focuses on the discovery of what the other

side wants and how to ensure the success of an agreement’s implementation at various strategic and state levels.

Chapter five concentrates on negotiating skills and provides answers early on in the section as to how one runs a successful meeting. Further on, this chapter also touches upon how one should deal with the hierarchic superior.

The penultimate chapter addresses the negotiating skill set, describing the core techniques developed by trainers in the United States and referencing the "Seven Elements of Negotiation" by Roger Fisher. Other works cited include those of Professor John Murray, advisor to the Negotiations Support Unit of the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as those of Terry Barnett, who participated in the establishment of a program of crisis management at Harvard University. This part of the paper concludes with a summary of the six common rules that must be honored before, during and after all negotiation.

The final chapter is dedicated to applications and examples, and links this study from a theoretical foundation to the real world, thus serving as a practical guide to various models of the negotiation process. Challenging questions raised include defining who you are before bringing in examples of practical application and procedural rules, in such institutions as the United Nations. Mid-chapter, the study details the practice of negotiation between two people in the presence of a third party before moving on to specify the nature of mediation within this framework, the role of the mediator and the rules. The author also offers a range of tips and specifies obligations. Finally, the fifth section reflects on the world of political negotiation, and most specifically negotiation with the US administration, and gives some insight into the sham negotiations that can take place between Palestinian and Israeli officials with US participation.

Publications


39


CleptocracyA cleptocracy is a political science term used to describe governments that use their authority to steal the resources

of the nation, – literally, a “regime of thieves”. Such governments usually conform to a pattern in which personal wealth and political power accumulate within a small group of oligarchic officials – the cleptocrats – to the detriment of the national community, and sometimes without even the pretense of seeking to serve the people. The word itself derives from two Greek ones – (κλέπτης) or kleptēs – meaning a thief - and (κράτος) or kratos meaning "power, rule”.

Usually the regime of such governments is dictatorial or autocratic. However, cleptocracies have also developed after democratic systems morphed into oligarchic ones.

39


Editorial

Over the past two decades, several international organizations, institutions and research centers have come up with a number of international indicators to aid in assessing political, economic, social, environmental and institutional performance. These indicators have come to be used to classify countries on a ladder of developmental evolution.

Among such indicators we find those that assess the performance of whole states, in various aspects of political and social-economic activity, and these have taken on enhanced importance with both international bodies and the media. One such example is the Failed States Index, which uses a number of metrics to rank the states ,according to their legitimacy, the level of public services they provide, the demographic pressures they face and the human rights they honor.

A failed state, according to the index, is a state that cannot control its own territory and more often than not resorts to force in settling conflicts and disputes. Failed state governments, in a word, fail to take effective decisions in areas of policy, economy and the provision of services to people. Further defection to deal effectively with the international community are often indications of unsuccessful government, often accompanied by corruption and high crime rates. Failed states are those that cannot perform basic functions, such as providing education, security or governance.

The Failed States report, published annually by the Institute for Peace in cooperation with the magazine Foreign Policy, uses 12 different indices to determine the rank of any state in the failure order; and so presents its assessment based on quantitative data.

The importance of the index’s methodology is key, as it must distinguish between the difficulties and pressures faced by all countries, and the moment from which these difficulties and pressures start pushing a state on a dangerous slope. The indices are based on a statistical estimation program called the Conflict Assessment Software Tool (CAST), which is owned by the Fund for Peace - an organization which seeks to prevent war and the causes that lead to the outbreak of armed conflicts. CAST analyzes millions of documents and data every year from primary sources fed into it. Through advanced search parameters and algorithms, the software can identify relevant data and use twelve social, economic and political primary criteria (each of which is divided into 14 sub-criteria) in analyzing the information collected.

Using various algorithms, data is converted into scores for each state which denotes the gravity of specific situations. For example, security concerns, low levels of services, conflicts, natural disasters and other data all combine to form a numerical indicator. The failed state, then, in this context, is the one that cannot perform basic functions such as the provision of educational services or respond to even more basic needs for security and governance.

The Failed States Index for 2013 has ranked Qatar in the most convenient position among Arab countries, corresponding to 143rd out of 178 nations on the global scale. This ranking also puts Qatar within a group of fifteen, classified as stable, namely: Costa Rica, Latvia, Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Estonia, Slovakia, Italy, Mauritius, Spain, Lithuania, Malta, Chile and Poland.

There is no doubt that the distinctive position occupied by the State of Qatar in the Failed States Index for 2013, reflects the great attention given by the government to public services, especially security, education, health and employment. The effort made by the State in the promotion of human rights and institutions, the rule of law and the freedom of media have also played their part in achieving a balanced economic development throughout the State. One should also highlight the high rate of investment and the State’s trade partnerships around the world, as well as the stability of the exchange rate. Additionally, the adoption of the new residency policies will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the country, reflecting positively on improved arrangements in future index reports.

1


Emir Abdelkader El Djezairi is a raw model of a political and military leader. He was the first to stir up the conscience of Algerians to rebel against the 19th - century French colonial domination. This revolution has not been subdued even after his death, and continued until Algeria obtained its independence in the 20th century.


Public Figures

20


Virtual Space…New BattlefieldKhalid Waleed Mahmoud*

* Researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies - Doha

Electronic attacks have become one of the easiest ways to direct hostilities and fire back towards the adversary with no much costs, so capable they are of inflicting damages to the interests of individuals, institutions and states, by hacking and deactivating vital websites. Some developments highlight this relatively new field, especially after the electronic hostilities conducted by a group called “ The Anonymous”, in the Middle East, noticeably in Israel during the last few years. Seemingly, these attacks caused “conflict” between a number of players, taking, as believed, the shape of “mutual invasions” of the foundations and organizations in different sectors, causing material and moral damages. There are contradicting estimations as to their sizes and impact on the activities of some financial and technological civil or military institutions and programs.

Articles

30


Follow-ups

During the four past decades, Qatar has continued to extend support and aid to various developing countries, especially the poor ones, in order to help them enhance their development level and provide various services to their people. Development assistance and humanitarian aid have been major factors of the Country’s foreign policy outlook, reflecting the enhanced emphasis placed on international cooperation by Qatar National Vision 2030: “contribution towards international peace and security through political initiatives and developmental and humanitarian assistance”.

Qatar.. A Haven for the DeprivedMore than 110 countries aroundthe world receive aid from Qatar


Total aid extended by Qatar over 2006-2012

Year

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total Aid

2,275,877,499

1.584.116.477

1,568,009,317

1,373,200,756

1,874,990,084

3,462,439,984

3,001,764,025

Government Aid

2.055.084.002

1,326.624.905

1,161,411,455

579,865,204

1,075,299,095

2,656,106,845

2,007,969,847

Non Government Aid

220,973.497

257,491,572

406,687,862

793,335,552

799,690,989

806,333,139

993,794,178

Percentage

%90

%84

%74

%58

%57

%77

%67

Percentage

%10

%16

%26

%42

%43

%23

%33

Follow-ups

Qatar developed institutional frameworks concerned with providing development assistance. In 2002, Qatar Development Fund was established to assist Arab and other developing countries in improving their economies and implementing developmental programs. It offered them loans, grants, technical aid and securities, thus contributing to their economic and social development. Moreover, in 2009 Qatar established “Education above all Foundation” which aims to protect, support and promote the right to education in areas threatened by or suffering from crises, conflicts and wars. It adopts many programs and activities designed to enable children to education, particularly “Teach a child” program.

In 2008, Silatech was established, as an international nongovernmental, independent, educational and nonprofit organization, governed by the applicable laws of the State of Qatar. It aims at meeting the growing needs of young people around the world for finding jobs, by connecting them to the potential employers. Furthermore, it encourages them to implement projects and businesses by using modern technologies through data networks that are mainly designed for this reason.

The developmental aid extended by the state of Qatar has certain unique features, as follows:

• It is an affordable, non- conditional aid, extended from a developing country to another. It is not restricted by supply and implementation terms and conditions from the institutions of the donor. Besides, it does not interfere in the economic policies of the receiving countries.

• It is channeled in many forms, the most important of which is the direct aid provided by the government, and the indirect aid extended by international, Arab and regional institutions in which Qatar participates, in addition to aid by non-governmental institutions and organizations.

• Wide geographic scope. More than 110 countries from different regions and areas in the world are benefiting from this aid, thus clearly reflecting the wide international scope of Qatari development assistance, and expressing the outstanding attendance of the state of Qatar in achieving global partnership in development.


Geographical spread of government aid extended by Qataraccording to regions over (2006-2012) million QAR

Region

Arab countries

Americas and the Caribbean

Africa

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Other

Total

2006

1641.6

229.2

53.6

68.9

27.3

-

34.4

2055.1

2007

1039.6

138.0

48.9

1.5

22.9

-

75.7

1326.7

2008

962.5

33.7

73.8

13.5

13.4

0.1

64.4

1161.4

2009

258.7

8.3

119.1

3.8

48.4

-

141.5

579.8

2010

816.5

17.7

154.9

20.8

65.1

-

0.3

1075.3

2011

2528.4

58.2

5.6

10.8

53.2

-

-

2656.1

2012

1663.5

74.8

2.0

200.4

20.8

-

46.4

2007.9

Sum

8910.8

559.9

457.9

319.7

251.1

0.1

362.7

10862.1

Follow-ups

Qatar aid channeled towards construction, human relief and education

Sectorial distribution of development aid indicates that the biggest percentage has been channeled to cover the construction, re-construction and building sector, where the aid reached almost QAR835.3 million, equaling 41.6% of Qatar total aid in 2012. This is followed by the relief sector, which totaled QAR775.9 million (38.6%). Qatar aid also targeted education and cultural activities support. In this sector, it reached QAR226 million (11.25%) of the total Qatari Aid.

Qatar has actively participated in donors conferences; it committed itself during Haiti Re-construction Conference in New York to contribute QAR73 million. In 2010, Qatar also held donors conference for Comoros to support development and investment out there. Again, in this conference, Qatar committed itself to contribute QAR113 million to reinforce the public budget of the United Republic of Comoros. In addition, Qatar committed itself to contribute USD100 million to Japan after the Fukushima earthquake in March 2011; then Qatar-Japan Friendship Fund has been formed to execute the related projects and programs to serve people of the quake-hit areas.


Aid provided by non-government Qatari organizations in 2012

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Donor country

Qatar Charity

Eid Charity

Qatar Red Crescent

RaF Foundation

Al-Daawa

Jassim Charity

Silatech

Reach Out To Asia

Al-Faisal Without Borders

Total

Amount

387,951,006

256,316,693

106,642,456

83,007,102

75,862,479

41,850,000

16,991,202

16.779,996

8,393,245

993,794,178

Follow-ups

Qatar has also played an active role in offering aid to war-hit Arab countries. It contributed in the reconstruction of Lebanon with an aid package of QAR300 million. It also supported reconstruction and development efforts in Darfur, and mediated the reconciliation between the fighting rivals. Further, it effectively contributed in Somalia to reinforce civil peace and reconstruct it after all the woes it witnessed due to civil war. Qatar is well-known for its support to Arab peoples in the countries that witnessed the Arab Spring revolutions.

Qatari nongovernmental organizations contribute in realizing a global partnership

Qatari support of developing countries was not limited to government aid. Other nongovernment organizations played a pivotal role in supporting humanitarian society efforts to achieve a global partnership in development. Nongovernmental organizations have donated QAR993.8 million that covered 87 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. Qatar Charity is in the top list of other nongovernmental organizations offering aid; as its contribution reached 39.4% of the total nongovernmental aid, seconded by Sheikh Eid Charity (25.8%), followed by Qatar Red Crescent (10.7%)


In most cases, Diplomacy and Foreign Policy are vague concepts and hard for the layman to understand their underlying procedural implications. For they may not lead to direct material results in such manner that enables one to find a connection between the concepts and the current events. However, when it comes to our diplomacy and foreign policy, this hypothesis is hardly valid. On the contrary, the effective activity of the Qatari diplomacy and foreign policy, witnessed in the world along the last decades, indicates that its key-feature is the ability for changing the course of action and ensuring significant interests and benefits on the national, regional, Islamic and human scales. That is not because Qatar is a big power, but rather because its diplomacy has a solid and flexible will for action.

Qatar:Diplomacy of Powerful Will

Wisdom requires fighting stereotypes There are numerous stereotypes about diplomacy

and diplomatic life, sometimes promoted by the diplomats themselves, to an extent that affects the public understanding of the nature of their work. While, considering the image and branding of Qatar and its distinctive status on the international arena, it becomes clear that this diplomacy is on the right track, making unequivocal achievements. The message has been overtly straightforward with a clear vision. The rationale supporting our mission in the Qatar Foreign Ministry was outward: we have to work firstly on changing some stereotyping percepts, in order to introduce an advanced, constantly up to date model for action and productive outcomes obtained through optimizing national, Arabic, Islamic and human interests.

Assuredly, the Qatari diplomacy appears to tailor some of the most paramount decisions taken today for the optimization of the national interests. It also designs the basic conceptions for the decisions intended to achieve the

overall goals in dealing with other countries, regionally and worldwide. Indeed, geographically and demographically, Qatar is a tiny state. Yet, thanks to its wise and reliable leadership, the wealth God bestowed on this country, and its right use, Qatar became a political pole with a position no less important than bigger states. Today, it provides the principles of a new theory in the effective diplomacy, or what may be called “diplomacy of the powerful will”.

Qatar Diplomacy:Effectiveness and swift action

In the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, there is no place for the word “delay” in our journey to achieving our ends. We never stagger while serving our interests. Our diplomacy is always characterized with effectiveness and rapid action upon assuming our national missions and tasks. At the same time, it shows a good deal of discretion in approaching and tackling the regional and international issues and dilemmas, which is the product of society deeply rooted in its civilization

Follow-ups


values and cultural norms. Qatar is a small-sized society, but extremely active and robust, with constant aspirations and yearnings for leadership. We are privileged to see our wise leadership pursuing such discrete approaches in work, usually associated with regulatory institutions advanced in age and experience.

We are very pragmatic, standing in our diplomatic performance in a medium position, between realism and idealism. We do not take both terms along with their political use implications and ideological impact limitations. Yet, we cherry pick the merits of both cases and mold our performance in light of the best choices supposed to well serve our interests. Political realism and political idealism have been both viewed during the 20th century as two competitive concepts, for grasping the international relationships, analyzing the decision making process by the competent bodies in the states, defining the policies that should or should not see the light in the world’s today, and justifying or criticizing patterns of policies capable of moving forward in the camp of whatever party.

In the political literature, it has been common to use terms as “power policy”, “realistic policy” and “practical viable policy” as synonyms for “Realpolitik”. In the West, they may opt for the use of the term “liberalism” rather than “idealism”. For our part, we prefer to use “idealism” in order to convey a clear ethical connotation in consistence to the fundamentals of our values and norms. This is also to avoid political and ideological confusion with the term “liberal”, which may convey to the reader, a number of wrong concepts that we deem less important than what we intend in the present context.

Building on the past experiences The partial understanding of the previous argument may

show that we were, two decades ago, a sort of introvert in the best case. However, this does not go right unless we view ourselves through our past experiences, as if we were a ship spreading its sails against the wind in an agitated turbulent sea, or receiving all winds with only one sail. This is definitely untrue. It is merely a wrong explanation, representing the same misconceptions that deprived some people of the ability to understand what lays behind the current transformation and evolution in Qatar foreign policy.

Like others, we followed all typical oratory and rhetorical rituals of diplomacy while approaching the regional issues. Still, we took different stances of our own. We had an active role in relation to crucially decisive issues of our Arab and Islamic nation. We have participated in complex dialogues on the universal crises and issues. We shared the world aspirations towards the possibilities of peace and for having a better world. We have had mutual world concerns on the climate change and the financial crisis which became a pretext for laxity. Yes, the demand for more funds is on increase, but a lot can be achieved with no resources. It just needs a good insight into making use of what is already available. We always believed that we can better communicate and productively cooperate with our brothers and friends, and mutually work on enhancing the quality of our performance.

Upon pondering on the way the diplomacy can be developed in the future, I reconsidered our special experience in the State of Qatar. How are we capable to incarnate several characteristics of the idealistic diplomacy? The one that creates a genuine diplomat: very humble in his manners, keen to acquire the required expertise , always carving for further knowledge in the field of his profession, with the highest degree of courtesy, decency and elegance, keeping sustainable high profile and attention; the one whose special and public contributions remain unforgettable, and the one whose presentations and interventions in the academic and diplomatic conferences remain engraved in the minds of the attendees. As such, he would make the future diplomat.

The youth: realism and idealism combined While listening to the young diplomats talking about

their future hopes and ambitions, or while discussing with them about distinction in diplomacy, we always recall the image of our former diplomats: discreet, humble, and very sensitive to responsibility.. For them, diplomacy was an important and responsible profession, transferring collective and bilateral relations into farther dimensions than mere occasional courtesies. Nevertheless, the new generation of diplomats seems more vehement, actively committed, and better knowing the requirements of this age and the complexity of the future. This is good news not only for the Qatari diplomacy, present and future, but also for the human kind, which needs more wisdom and sympathy.

Fortunately, in the State of Qatar, we are not bound to the strict hierarchal order in the diplomatic work, which impedes communication between generations and weakens the effective exploitation of the expertise and skills combined. We are making use of all talents under the roof of the Foreign Ministry and otherwise institutions of the State. Thus, the guiding principal, admitted here, is based on the proper grounds for developing the Qatari diplomacy along the new century with adequate efficiency and endeavor to realize a worthwhile result. All authorized officials know well that the State of Qatar clings to nothing but the idealism and realism of its own diplomacy, sparing no effort to be number one.

Hopefully, our diplomats are to deal with the reality and present facts in a different way than others are used to in the course of the procedural arrangements, which would affect the way they perceive the purpose beyond the international relationships and impact the political choices. Time proves Qatar’s insightful vision and values with regard to the protection of the national interests against the foreign storms, and steering the foreign diplomatic work so as to serve the national development. That gives our work importance and continuity and maintains a distinguishable presence for the State of Qatar on the world stage. Our conviction is that the milestones and notches realized so far by the Qatari diplomacy will not allow it to ever be in the shadow, particularly when the strategic trends in dealing with the international relations prevail and when the efficiency and credibility are the decisive measures. The visions and conceptions for the diplomatic work are also designed in response to the voice of wisdom and prudence.

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With Participation of H.E Foreign Minister of Qatar,Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, and More Than 2000 Diplomats

MOFA Celebrating the Sports Day Dr. Al-Attiyah: We Intend to Increase Awarenessof Importance of Sport and its Role in Individual Life


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UNDER the auspices and with the participation of H.E Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Foreign Minister, the Ministry organized the events and activities of the Sports Day, attended by more than 2000 persons, between Qatari diplomats, and employees of foreign diplomatic missions, and Qatar-based international organizations along with their families. At the outset, H.E the Minister delivered a speech in which he highlighted the gracious initiative of H.H

the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to set aside a day to celebrate sports, stressing the importance attached to such activity.He added that the Ministry is keen to participate in the third edition of the Sports Day, with a number of

activities and events, in order to bring awareness of the importance of sport and its role in the lives of individuals and communities, and to encourage people to exercise as a healthy and civilized behavior.His Excellency also pinpointed that the one who would deserve be recognized on such day is the one

who managed to keep exercising and preserve his fitness to date and for the third consecutive year.

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps: This Day boosts the role of culture and sport in society

H.E Mr. Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, Eritrean ambassador and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Qatar gave a speech, on behalf of the accredited members of the Diplomatic Corps in Doha, in which he paid tribute to the idea of celebrating the sports day, - a matter so particular to Qatar over the whole world. He extended his profound thanks to the Government of Qatar, for organizing this creative occasion for boosting the role of culture and sports in society. This day will definitely lead to sort of solidarity between the people of Qatar on the one hand, and the members of the Diplomatic Corps on the other. This presents the most outstanding achievements of the Sports Day, he added. He further stressed that Qatar became a leading state in the field of sports, with all its forms and types under the patronage and support of its wise leadership, being aware of the importance of sport and its impact on the lives of people, especially with the clock ticking for Qatar’s 2022 Football World Cup.

Foreign Ministry won the First rank in football and volleyball

The Ministry's celebration began by a 3 km march in Al-Rifaa Street, followed by healthy breakfast, before starting

the sports activities. The attendees took part in many sports activities including distance running, football and volleyball games between the employees of the Foreign Ministry and the representatives of the diplomatic missions in Doha.

The games ended with the Foreign Ministry sports team winning the first rank in Football, after winning the final game versus the Kuwaiti embassy team in Doha. The Foreign Ministry team also scored in volleyball, beating the Indonesian embassy team at the final game. Other entertainment


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activities were also organized, like horse riding, table-tennis, and cycling, in addition to popular games mirroring the State’s old inheritance. During its celebrations, the Ministry promoted the 2015-Handball World Championship hosted in Doha next January, for the first time in Qatar.

On their part, all members of the diplomatic and consular missions abroad celebrated the Sports Day, where the arrangements for playing different games were made with the participation of the mission heads, their employees and guests.

Tunisian Ambassador: This day is a new sports milestone achieved by Qatar

Upon surveying the opinions of the diplomatic mission heads to Qatar, who participated in the Sports Day, the Tunisian Ambassador, H.E Mohamed Al Monther Al-Dharif, said “This day is a new sports milestone achieved by Qatar on everyday basis. The famous saying “the sound mind in the sound body”, means that sport is a key factor in the progress of nations on the intellectual, mental and development scales.” For the sports activities organized by the Foreign Ministry, he asserted that they were exemplary, important and meant to success. Everyone exercised at the very beginning of the Sports Day, dedicated by the State of Qatar to athletics and athletes.


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Bahraini Ambassador: We congratulate the Qatari people on this occasion. We are honored to participate with the Qataris in such big event

H.E Bahraini Ambassador, Mr. Waheed Syar, said “We would like to congratulate the Qatari people on this occasion. We are honored to participate with the Qataris in this big event”.

“This day is extremely important for the Qatari and Arab people. That is why we views it as a big feast bearing merriness for everybody”, he asserted. H.E also added that the Qatari role is witnessed by all in different fields on the Arab, regional and international levels, thus referring to the significant Qatari initiatives for peaceful solutions to Arab and Islamic world’s issues, wishing them luck and success all the time.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador: The Sports Day incarnates the true depth of understanding and the importance of intellectual work

H.E Mr. Mote’b Al-Motwah, the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Qatar, said it was a Sports Day of excellent degree, encompassing a well harmonized performance of sports and cultural activities among different segments of society and all habitants of this good land. This incarnates the true depth of understanding and the importance of the intellectual work based on the rule, “The sound mind in the sound body”.

The American Ambassador: It is a good opportunity to bring the people of Qatar closer

H.E the American Ambassador to Doha, Susan Ziadeh, expressed its extreme happiness to participate in the Sports Day, which she described as “the one of its kind”. She stated that this occasion brings the people of Qatar closer, as they participate in different forms of sport activities in more than one place. She described the ambiance around her as full of intimacy and cordiality with the spirit of sports dominating. She paid tribute to the Qatari leadership’s caring for people’s health by setting aside a national day for sports. Such initiative is to be added to the wide scale achievements of this leadership. She said that she felt honored to participate with her Qatari colleagues in such magnificent day and sent her best wishes to all Qatar nationals and hopes to enjoy the best health ever.

Ecuadorian Ambassador: this day will help form a sports and morals legacy

H.E Mr. Qablan Abi Saab, Ecuadorian Ambassador to Qatar, stated that this day is not something familiar or ordinary in the life of other peoples also interested in the sports. This is a source of creativity. Besides, it is a highly positive idea, benefiting the Qatari citizens and other communities alike.

Exercising sport is open for all. “This Sports Day will help form a sports and moral legacy of a very high standards,” he


said. “Sport allows people from different classes to mingle and communicate; the boss and the subordinate are alike”.

Jordan Ambassador: the in-deep awareness and discretion

H.E the Jordan Ambassador to Doha, Mr. Zahi Assamadi, maintained that this day mirrors the in-deep awareness and wisdom of the Qatari leadership, securing the indispensable bonds for the society fabric in all ways that help dynamism.

Al-Rumaihi: Sport is a key factor for people to gain self-confidence and feel their efficiencies and capabilities

At the conclusion of the scheduled activities, H.E Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Rumaihi, Minister’s Assistant for Foreign Affairs, gave recognition to all winning teams in different contests. He commended the responses from the diplomatic missions, manifested in the huge presence. His Excellency highlighted that sport activity charges the energies to work, giving new boosts and self-confidence. He further asserted that Sport is a key factor for people to gain self- confidence and recognize their efficiencies and capabilities.

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The Foreign Ministry hosted a conference and exhibition for the first Arab Regional Development based on cooperation with countries of the southern hemisphere. The Ministry hosted the Conference and Exhibition for the first Arab Regional Development based on

South-South cooperation between the 18th and 20th February. The event sought to provide a platform for the harmonization of the capabilities of solution providers with those of researchers to offer an exchange of practical experience among nations of the South.

MOFA Hosted First Arab Regional Conference andExhibition on South-South Cooperation

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The three-day event followed on the back of a successful annual global development show for southern nations and was a direct response to requests of member states and the organizations’ founding partners. The conference sought to make southern hemisphere solutions fit regional contexts and enhance the effects of development cooperation among southern countries through wider simulation, cooperation and implementation.

Nearly four hundred representatives participated in the conference and exhibition, representing some forty five countries in addition to officials of prominent institutions that promote South-South cooperation in the Arab region by bringing together state officials and the management of regional organizations.

The conference and exhibition focused on providing ideas to answer fundamental questions revolving around job creation and qualitative improvement for jobs already undertaken by young Arab men and women. The event also helped identify ways to take advantage of renewable energy, and reduce the oil spill rates at sea. Conference exhibits were introduced by high-level representatives from several institutions, including bilateral and multilateral agencies and Arab Development Cooperation offices. Islamic Development and the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation also

contributed to the event’s success.

The Ministry regards such events as of the utmost important to ensure the development of mutual dialogue between southern developing countries as they tend to shed light on the experiences and solutions that have been developed successfully by institutions and non-governmental organizations in the region. It is worth noting, too, that this event was the result of a quality-enhancing partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Nations Development Program and the Office of South - South Cooperation at the United Nations.

Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation: Qatar supports South-South cooperation

In his opening speech, HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Assistant Secretary of State for International Cooperation, stressed the attention given by the State of Qatar on supporting cooperation among the countries of the South as a means to strengthen fundamentally regional cooperation. He said such regional events provide an excellent opportunity to enhance strategically support for South-South cooperation and participation by Arab nations.

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Chairman of the Committee on South-South Cooperation: South-South cooperation is key to building strong international partnerships

Zsolt Hetesy, vice-president of the Senior Committee on South-South Cooperation, a subsidiary organization of the General Assembly at the United Nations, said in his speech that "South-South cooperation has become a key approach to building a strong international partnership for development from its base to the very summit". He added that participants have to build on this resource and benefit from its unique characteristics. In the coming years, he concluded, the question of how to achieve the best results at international and regional levels would become clear.

Chairman of the Group of 77:Such conferences allow the sharing of effective solutions for the South to meet development challenges

Sacha Sergio Llorenty, president of the Group of 77, expressed his confidence that the conference and exhibition would help Arab development offices and agencies and their counterparts in the regional bloc discover effective southern solutions to meet the challenges of development and utilization. Also speaking at the opening session, Murad Wahba , Deputy Regional Director of the United Nations Development Program, referred to the challenges faced by

developing countries. He said that no one country or one community held a monopoly on all solutions to today’s issues, adding, "such an exhibition as this provides an important model for co-creativity and a forum in which many of those who champion the development of policies and technologies might transform their practical and tangible ideas that support countries of the South to achieve balanced growth and balanced development."

Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation: This conference will deepen the impact of development cooperation between countries of the South

Zhu Ying, Director of the United Nations Office for Cooperation among Countries of the South, said that February’s exhibition in Doha came as a direct response to the growing demand by both member states and institutions to promote South-South solutions in the region. He added that the exhibition had brought together stakeholders in order to maximize benefit and deepen the impact of development cooperation among countries of the south through the exchange of knowledge and expertise and the expansion of the successful transport models and solutions.

Over the first two days of the conference, the forums witnessed an exchange of solutions by numerous organizations and United Nations’ programs. These forums

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focused on innovation, sustainability and replicability within the context of the conference. Proposed solutions shone light on the benefits of cooperation among southern countries, as they suited a regional approach to dealing with demand, ownership and leadership. The forums also reviewed the extent of innovation, efficiency, sustainability and scalability.

On the third and final day, a number of initiatives witnessed interactive dialogue sessions between managers to a couple of agencies for technical cooperation. These sessions also helped review the exchange of experience and share best practices. New partnerships were built which seek a common goal - to help expand the impact of development and cooperation in the Arab world and beyond.

The conference focused on job creation and the efficient and secure use of energy, water and food

The three-day conference centered on three main themes: the provision of jobs and decent work opportunities for young men and women, energy efficiency and renewable energy and water and food security. Substantive deliberations were also

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held about specific solutions and the establishment of a special exhibition to promote the tools to monitor the experience of South-South cooperation and facilitate its transactions.

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs: Establishing a mechanism to enhance Arab cooperation

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the end of the conference, HE Mohamed bin Abdullah Al- Rumaihi, the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, concluded that Qatar’s commitment to the establishment of a mechanism to promote South-South cooperation in the Arab world was underlined by the exhibition. Qatar was providing constructive opportunities for Arab countries, along with international and regional organizations, to deepen the dialogue on cooperation and draw up a road map for the region’s enrichment. The themes raised in the conference and exhibition and the mechanisms and expertise shared could only increase development cooperation in the South. The region, he said, would build on such accomplishments to tackle the challenges that remain to be faced for sustainable development post- 2015.

Three elements to ensure success Conference participants no doubt concluded that

government in developing countries of the South is growing and that the hope and ambition of their future development is also growing at the same time as the world comes together to consider a new agenda for global development that will shape the future of the twenty-first century.

During the three days of deliberations, consensus emerged among participants on the guarantees for successful sustainability, should existing, cooperative efforts continue, particularly regarding the eradication of poverty and the pace of economic growth in the South and in the Arab world. Participants also agreed on three important elements to ensure success:

• That regional and national policies be formulated clearly;

• That the exchange of expertise and institutional coordination be expanded ;

• That allocation of appropriate knowledge resources and expertise receive funding.

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Emir Abdelkader El Djezairi is a raw model of a political and military leader. He was the first to stir up the conscience of Algerians to rebel against the 19th - century French colonial domination. This revolution has not been subdued even after his death, and continued until Algeria obtained its independence in the 20th century.


Public Figures


Early years On Tuesday, September 6th of 1808, Emir Abdelkader Ibn

Muhieddine, also known as Abdelkader El Djezairi, was born in Guittena, near the town of mascara in western Algeria. By the age of 5, he was able to read and write. At 12, he was awarded a prize for the interpretation of Quran and Hadith. Before the age of 20, he had read a significant number of Arabic reference books in history, philosophy, language, astronomy and geography, including some medical publications. He grew up in his father’s assemblies which embraced literature men and scholars. He paid close attention to them exchanging points of views, reciting poetry, debating issues of jurisprudence, and recalling historic events.

Character Building His father sent him to Oran for further education in about

a two year-lasting journey (1521-1823). He was taught by an elite of important scholars such as El Sheikh Ahmed Ibn El-Khodjha and El Sheikh Ahmed El Batiwi. Then he returned to his small town and got married.

The Ottoman Ruler was discontented with El Sheikh Muhieddine, Emir Abdelkader’s father, because of the assemblies he had been holding. Thus, he was assigned to residence; yet, he seized the first chance to leave the country. He set out for the Hajj, Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, taking Abdelkader with him.

Such journey with his father in 1825 to Hejaz, represented the most important event in his life during that period. At the age of 18, he was privileged to accompany his father on the full two year journey, visiting Hejaz, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Iraq. The effect on his culture and character was huge. He got acquainted with different types of social and political life and government affairs.

Joining the army and his election as Emir El Sheikh Muhieddine returned to his homeland at the very

beginning of its political crisis with France. His house became a forum for scholars and dignitaries. When the crisis reached the turn of a military conflict, the Turkish rule collapsed. Algeria was at the time under the Ottoman power. The French settlers invaded Algiers and started the expansion to the neighboring areas. Reacting to the invasion, El Sheikh Muhieddine and his son, Abdelkader, joined the battle field , defending Islam and the Arab identity.

Sheikh Muhieddine formed a big army of tribal warriors, and started launching attacks against French troops. Soon, the bravery , cunning and dauntless spirit of his son, Abdelkader, manifested as he entrusted him with missions on the battlefield. He reflected an image of a true hero, especially at the battle of “Khanq Alnattah”.

The perception of an intrepid and courageous hero able to snatch the country from the colonists, was widespread in Algeria.. From every spot of the country, people showed no reluctance to join the battle under his orders. In autumn 1832, a congregation of people were convened under the elm at Farah Valley- it was a big tree in shades of which the nationals used to gather for consultation. El Sheikh Muhieddine called the gathering for electing his son leader in his place.

Everybody warmly responded to the father’s call, recognizing the chivalry and the wide span knowledge of the young man. He was given the title of “Naser Eddin” (Guard of Faith) by his father. He established his state on a religious basis, forsaking the French domination over his country. He was a dauntless leader, always at the front lines of his armies, with no heed to the number and equipment of his foes.

He organized the administration of his country, dividing it into eight units. He founded a hierarchical administrative body, set up a judiciary system, and a revolutionary council; formed an army of 10.000 soldiers, built arsenals, gunpowder and soldiers’ outfits factories, collected money of zakah (charity), constructed the city of Tagdemt and many workshops, opened schools and issued currency named “ muhammadiyya”. When he called the Sufi Tijani Sheikhs to help him oust the French, they rejected his call in compliance with their concepts barring them from interfering in politics. Consequently, he carried out several attacks against the Tijani zone in Aïn Madhi, but they resisted.

Fighting French colonial power French troops have been exhausted by endless skirmisheswith

Algerians who had better knowledge of the nature of their country, and were abler to using the desert as safe haven from the contesting enemy. Therefore, to ensure the safety of their logistics, the French were forced to sign a treaty with Emir Abdelkader on February 28th, 1834, known as the Desmichels Treaty after the General who initiated it. Whereby, France declared its recognition of Abdelkader’s state in western Algeria in exchange of the latter’s recognition of France’s sovereignty over four towns: Algeria, Mostaganem, Oran, Orzew. He agreed on this treaty so as to focus on consolidating his rule, fortifying his army, and creating workshops for weapons and ammunition in preparation for more important and more crucial battles. However, the French broke this treaty. Emir Abdelkader called his people to go on Jihad. In such manner, fierce battles renewed between the two parties. The first of which was the battle of Sikkak at the Ismail woods, where the French lost 150 soldiers; wounded and killed. It was followed by the well-known battle of Macta in which Emir Abdelkader besieged General Trezel’s army while crossing Hibrah River.

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As, the French army lost its balance, General Trezel fled from the battlefield with few of his aides. The defeat of General Trezel led to his dismissal and Marshal Clausel replaced him. Later on, General Bugeaud would be sent to Algeria, - known for his intransigent colonialism and notorious support for North Africa colonial empire. Yet, he was not of much better luck than the dismissed General. The most prominent battle led by Bugeaud against Emir Emir Abdelkader was the battle of Tafna Valley, whereupon the French leader was forced to sign a truce known as “Tafna Treaty” on May 30th 1837.

Surrender to spare bloodshed Similar to the first treaty, Emir Abdelkader signed this second

treaty with different demarcation of borders between both sides. Whereby, the French side committed to officially recognize the Algerian state on two thirds of the country’s surface. Likewise, the treaty was broken after one and half year. It was due to a furious campaign led by the French MP, Thiers, calling the government to either withdraw the troops from Algeria, for the sake of preserving France’s honor, or send adequate support and supplies to totally suppress and squash the Arab resistance.

The French Ministry of Defense dismissed Marshal Clauzel, the new ruler of Algeria, and raised General Bugeaud to the rank of Marshal. The latter sent 80.000 soldiers equipped with the most powerful and lethal weapons, using which in a war of annihilation against the locals, destroying villages, farms, castles and fortresses. To encourage the troops, the French government in Algeria declared that the French soldier was allowed to kill the Algerian Arab of whatever status, gender or age; male or female, young or old, during peace or hostility. If so, he would be rewarded for every Arab he killed five Francs. However, the Emir and his comrades stood fast before these atrocities, making many victories. They were backed by the Moroccan aids and logistics. France thus pursued to neutralize Morocco and drag it out of the battlefield. They forced the Sultan Abdurrahman, King of Morocco, to sign a treaty barring him for

providing the Algerians with any support and committing him to arrest Emir Abdelkader if the latter sought asylum in Morocco.

With Morocco neutralized and its support to Algerian warriors cut off, Emir Abdelkader’s troops were much weakened and downscaled relatively to the French troops. The Emir was ultimately forced to surrender in order to stop bloodshed and rescue the rest of his men and people from the French brutality. In December of 1847, Emir Abdelkader was jailed in France. In the early 1950s, he was released on taking an oath not to return to Algeria. He traveled to Turkey, then to Damascus in 1855.

When the Emir and his followers settled in Damascus, he established what is called the Ribat of Maghariba in Swaiqah district, which rapidly earned high esteem among the Levant scholars and dignitaries. He gave lessons in the Ashrafia School, and then the Umayyad Mosque, which was the greatest religious school in Damascus. He went on the Hajj, Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Upon returning, he devoted himself anew to the study and charities.

His Death Emir Abdelkader El Djezairi died in May of 1883, and was

buried in Syria. His humanitarian stock was not confined to his Jihad against the imperial sovereignty only. He was also an author of many valuable books some of which were translated into several languages. On July 5th, 1962, Algeria became independent. His corpse would be moved to his homeland after about century of his deportation. He was buried in the martyrs' square of the El Alia cemetery where great national symbols rested.

On April 3rd, 2006, the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) opened a special exhibition for commemorating the Emir in Geneva. His house in Syria also became a museum incarnating his jihad experience for the independence of his country.

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Spotlight:

Organization for EconomicCo-operation and DevelopmentIt is a Paris-based international organization, sometimes referred to as “club of the

rich”. Its members are the developed countries committed to the exemplary principles of democracy and free market economy.

Spotlight


Foundation and membership It was founded in 1961 to replace the Organization for

European Economic Cooperation OEEC, formed in 1948 in the wake of the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe after the World War II. It was then extended to include non-European countries, such as Canada and the United States. In 1960, it was reformed into The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In early 2014, the OECD comprised 34 members: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherland, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United States of America, Estonia, Israel, Slovenia, Chile and Slovakia.

Objectives: In accordance to the first article of the convention signed

in Paris on December 14th, 1960, the OECD is designed to:

1. Achieve the highest possible economic growth, employment and raising standard of living in member countries; while maintaining financial stability and thus contributing to the development of the world economy;

2. Contribute to sound economic expansion in member as well as nonmember countries in the process of economic development; and

3. Contribute to the expansion of world trade on a multilateral, nondiscriminatory basis, in accordance with international obligations.

Methodologies And Focal Points The OECD provides a significant podium for its members,

so as to coordinate their economic policies, exchange ideas, conclude trade and otherwise agreements, and facilitate communications between the member states.

In addition to its focus on the economic welfare of its members, the OECD started in recent years tackling a wide scale of cultural, political and social issues. On the top of its working agenda, for the time being, there are topics pertaining to biotechnology, transitional-stage emerging economies, trans-national organized crime, the environment, energy and information society. The OECD is also committed to democracy and the market economy, with a determination to counter the national product protection and promote the free flow of goods and services across the world. The OECD maintains close relationships with international organizations

Spotlight


and entities, inter alia, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the World Bank (WB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the European Council (EC).

Over a half-century, the OECD has been dealing with a number of economic, social and environmental issues, apart from its contribution to deepen the roots of cooperation with business circles, labor syndicates and other representatives of civil society, e.g. initiatives held by the OECD in the field of taxation and transfer pricing. It paved the way for concluding the bilateral tax agreements over the whole world. In 1961, the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), encompassing 23 countries, was established by the OECD to act on coordinating aids provided by the OECD -member countries and expanding the development resources and their efficiency.

Funding and Organizational Structure

For its funding resources, the OECD depends on grants given by the member states. To such effect, it heavily relies on US’s financial support. This, in turn, explains the US domination over the OECD governing policy. The OECD annual budget is around 354 million Euros, having about 2500 employees on its payroll and releasing 250 annual publications.

The OECD organizational structure consists of: OECD Council, representing the main body for decision making, and overseeing the policies of many committees formed by the delegations of the member states, and OECD Secretariat, providing support to the committees’ activities.

The OECD official languages are English and French.

Spotlight



The Failed States Index Report has been published since 2005 in Foreign Policy, a journal of international politics, in cooperation with the Global Peace Fund, an independent research body. The report defines a failed state as one that cannot control its own territory, resorts readily to force and often fails to take effective decisions. Failed states often demonstrate an inability to provide services for their people and are plagued with high rates of crime and corruption. The report is based on the evaluation of twelve social, economic and political indicators, comprising

data from tens of thousands of sources, such as international media, local print and audio-visual material, articles, interviews, surveys and opinion polls. Evidence from local and international NGOs as well as government documents and independent studies conducted by consultancies, financial firms and universities are also included. The index is calculated using the following factors:

Reports


• Demographic pressures (population increase, poverty, age distribution, and internal conflict, etc.)

• Refugee migration, and random and irregular movement of individuals, which can lead to complex and critical situation.

• Collective grievance (lack of justice, political and institutional exclusion, control of a a majority by a minority, etc.)

• Emigration («brain-drain» - loss of the productive classes of the state, alienation within the community).

• Uneven development (lack of equality in education, jobs and income, regional poverty levels, ethnic conflict for these reasons).

• Economic downturn (national income, exchange rates, balance of trade, investment rates, growth rates, distribution, transparency and corruption, financial obligations of the State).

• Loss of legitimacy (corruption of the ruling elite, the lack of transparency and political accountability, lack of confidence in institutions and the political process and unpunished crime linked to the ruling elites).

• Deterioration of public services (core state functions not provided, lack of protection, lack of provision of health services, education and employment).

• Pervasiveness of human rights violations (military rule, emergency law, political arrests, civil violence, lawlessness and fear of politics).

• Dispersion of security (emergence of military factions in the army, domination of the military factions, emergence of armed conflict, and parallel security forces with the State security apparatus).

• Defections (splits between ruling elite and State institutions, the use by the ruling elite of nationalistic slogans reminder of nationalist political experiences).

• Intervention of external political actors (military or para-military intervention in the affairs of the state, or in the army or some of its divisions, intervention of peacekeeping forces and international forces).

For the eighth time successively, the 2013 Failed States Index placed the Federal Republic of Somalia in the first position with 113.9 points, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo with 111.9 points. Three Arab countries, Sudan, Yemen and Iraq, were also ranked within the top dozen most failed states.

Most failed countries according to the Failed States Index for 2013

Index

113.9

111.9

111.0

110.6

109.0

107.0

106.7

105.8

105.3

105.2

103.9

103.5

Country

Somalia

DR Congo

Sudan

South Sudan

Chad

Yemen

Afghanistan

Haiti

Central African Republic

Zimbabwe

Iraq

Ivory Coast

Global Ranking

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Least failed (or most successful) States According to 2013 Index

Index

21.9

21.9

21.5

19.7

18.0

Country

Denmark

Switzerland

Norway

Sweden

Finland

Rank

174

175

175

177

178

According to the Failed States Index for 2013, Qatar was ranked 143rd with an index value of 47.1 as listed among the 178 countries included in the report. Qatar is, therefore, classified among the most stable countries, improving its previous ranking of 139th in the 2012 report. This is due to the significant economic progress which includes the provision of services, stronger state institutions and the promotion of human rights. This in turn has brought about more balanced development and ensured political and social security and extremely low levels of crime and corruption.

According to the 2013 index, Scandinavian countries remain the world’s least failed, with Finland considered the most successful in last place, followed by Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark. This is doubtless due to the effective policies they implemented in the delivery of health services, education, security and the provision of employment opportunities for all citizens, regardless of background, ethnicity or religious affiliation. Success is also due to political accountability and respect for human rights, strong domestic economy, and non-interference with foreign states internal affairs, thus earning the respect of the international community.

Reports


WHY ARE THERE RICH AND POOR COUNTRIES?

The Cases of Qatar and BoliviaHugo Guiliani Cury *

* Dominican Republic Ambassador to the State of Qatar

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Many years ago, when I began learning economics, teachers always told me that countries, in order to develop, needed three types of resources, which were: natural resources, capital resources, and human resources.

They also said that if you had the first type, you could get the second, and obviously, with the first two, you will have the third one.

This simple explanation gave us, as students, a clear indication that if developing countries added value to their natural resources, wealth would result. Then, if wealth was correctly used to diversify the economy, and invested in the education of the people, those countries could achieve a balanced and sustained economic growth.

A case like this is happening in the place where I currently live, and for this reason, I am making of it an example.

The country is called Qatar; it became independent in 1971, when the British left the Arab Gulf region. Shortly thereafter, Qatar decided to exploit its greatest resource, which was the gas. However, in those years, gas did not have much value; yet, they saw a promising future in it, and took the risk of investing in that sector.

To do this, they devised a wise policy, deciding not only to exploit the gas, but also to look for strategic partners with technical know-how, able to contribute 50% of the investment needed to exploit the main resource of the country. Under this modality, they associated with large and well known worldwide companies that knew how to manage those businesses properly.

But also, with a vision of the future, they began to diversify the economy from the natural gas upon which it was based. One of those new value-adding sectors consisted in converting the natural gas into liquid. Thus, they could transport and sell it to the most important markets of Asia, Europe and the United States.

Qatar is one of the top-three exporters of liquefied gas worldwide. Then, with the wealth generated by the gas exports they further diversified the economy, while acquiring new technologies that convert the gas into liquid fuels, such as diesel and gasoline.

The country is gradually forming its institutions to have smart governance for the next century. The accumulated financial resources are being invested, and they have begun to educate their people. They are doing it for the days when gas and petroleum will

be exhausted. The leadership of the people of Qatar is wisely acting today for the future of the nation.

We will compare this case with another nation in Latin America, which is called Bolivia. With this comparison, we will try to explain why there are rich countries while others are poor.

Bolivia became independent from Spain in 1825, and was rich in mineral resources such as tin, silver and copper. This nation, at the beginning of last century, became the second largest exporter of tin. During decades, they exploited the tin that brought wealth to few ones, but not to the people and the country. Many factors contributed in worsening the situation, it such as the ruthless exploitation by the private miners, called the tin barons. The country also was poorly managed by corrupts governments; and finally the collapse that brought the nationalization process started in 1952.

Actually Bolivia has huge reserves of gas, but also of lithium. This valuable and scarce resource is mainly used in the automotive industry, for the batteries of electric cars. It is estimated that Bolivia could be the world's largest producer of this mineral, which is vital to the automobile of the future. The Bolivian gas reserves could be close to 80.0 trillion cubic feet.

Nevertheless, they have failed to make a rational exploitation of those gas reserves. One of the reasons is the instability of the country, added to the indecision of the leaders of Bolivia, concerning the efficient exploitation of gas and lithium. Consequently, those valuable resources are not well exploited, and Bolivia is the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

The limited amount of gas that they export does not generate enough income to improve their economy. Moreover, those scarce resources are not well invested, and everyday that goes by, there are more poor Bolivians. The result is that some 188 years after independence, Bolivia has a per-capita income of around 2500 dollars.

By way of comparison, the people of Qatar who achieved independence only 42 years ago enjoy one of the highest per capita in the world. A recent report of Credit Suisse indicated that it was around 153.294 dollars. This also reveals that independence, democracy and resources are not enough. The key is to have strong institutions, good governance with intelligent leadership and educated people.

This case presented in a very simple way, was intended, just to give an idea about why, in this world, there are rich and poor countries.

Articles


Virtual Space…New BattlefieldKhalid Waleed Mahmoud*

* Researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies - Doha

Electronic attacks have become one of the easiest ways to direct hostilities and fire back towards the adversary with no much costs, so capable they are of inflicting damages to the interests of individuals, institutions and states, by hacking and deactivating vital websites. Some developments highlight this relatively new field, especially after the electronic hostilities conducted by a group called “ The Anonymous”, in the Middle East, noticeably in Israel during the last few years. Seemingly, these attacks caused “conflict” between a number of players, taking, as believed, the shape of “mutual invasions” of the foundations and organizations in different sectors, causing material and moral damages. There are contradicting estimations as to their sizes and impact on the activities of some financial and technological civil or military institutions and programs.

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Cyberspace is the fifth domainof intra-states warfare

Physically, we can define what is known as “Cyber” or “Virtual Space” as the digital medium extended across various metal, radiant and air communication lines and channels via Internet. According to the technological expression, it is “ the data highway”. This space has different related concepts, giving no relevance to the geographic locations while came to surface the geography of data navigation in all directions and instantly. That is what makes such phenomenon one of the most important landmarks of the information age. It presents a practical example of the universal village through its open cyberspace, leading to a different digital world in terms of its news bases, features and values. Thus, “The idea revolves here around the virtual world, emerging as a space-time domain, similar to a new land, attracting in a rapid momentum capitals and contemporary cultures and sciences, along with the manifestations of entertainment, and crime as well”.

There are a variety of definitions for the virtual space or cyberspace. According to the International Telecommunication Union – a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for issues that concern information and communication technologies, the virtual space is defined as follows: it is the material and immaterial space generated from or constituted of the following components – partly or wholly: Computers, auto-machines, networks, computerized information, programs and modulations, access limitations and control mechanisms and all users of such components. Contrary to the definitions which view the virtual space as a fifth dimension or domain, some consider it as one of seven fields: air, outer space, sea, land plus the electro-magnetic spectrum and human field”. The virtual space also has been viewed as “the fifth war field” counting the land, the sea, the air and the outer space. Under the same definition, the virtual space is much wider than the Internet, expanding to cover other Internet-linked computer networks, including the Systems of control and data acquisition SCADA, allowing communication channels between the computing systems related to controlling the joints of economy. Thus, “the virtual space is already deemed as the fifth domain of the inter-state warfare. Across history, the world is familiar with the land wars, sea wars, air wars and recently the space war. Today the cyber warfare comes into existence.”

The denominator of all abovementioned definitions is the mental category, while the disparities apparently mirror the interest every state or organization gives in the context of confronting the cyberspace challenges. Yet, the disparities in the given definitions do not reflect different conception of the cyberspace. For all those who draw such definitions do recognize- as said above- the three categories incorporated under the United Nations definition.

Our contemporary world witnessed its first wild electronic storm under the shock of Wiki leaks, known as “WikiLeaks

Storm”. Its electronic website served to disseminate scanned copies of thousands of official classified documents exchanged between the US Department of State and its missions around the world. Such leaks resulted in severe tensions in the international relations at all levels, causing strains between many world leaders, presidents and kings, whose secret statements and declarations suddenly disclosed utterly conflicted with their publicized policies which was conducive to many disorders and protests in the concerned countries.

Hacking for military, economical, media, political and criminal purposes

Electronic hacking appeared as one aspect of the information revolution. What is today dubbed Electronic warfare, primarily based on the computer set and the Internet, consists in operations led by hackers as focal characters in the digital world, perpetrating computer software break ins. However, with the massive volumes of information accessible via Internet, and the rise of its value as an economic, political and security knowledge source - depending on the nature of the website - a crucial change occurred regarding the targets of the electronic attacks (i.e. Piracies), which were initially committed out of curiosity to reach a new knowledge, or for the ecstasy of a victory against the challenge of security measures. The hackers’ goals have then been directed toward capitalizing on these capabilities and translating them into oriented material or political gains. The partial or complete destruction of the targeted websites turned into an integral part of the hacker’s behavior through breaching the systems.

Breaching the countries’ cyberspace or information space is conducted via groups of computer hackers; (performed by a person or a group of persons, probably hundreds or some thousands of users who are capable of controlling and managing computer programs. They are most likely programmers of high standard able to break in the computer system). Most of them decline to disclose their true identity for fear of being tracked by the authorities and prefer to be tagged as “Anonymous”.

Hackers make attempts to draw the attention of the opponent and his/her supports by simulating some malfunction or failure in the regular processes, while deactivating the accessibilities to various forms of services and digital equipment. The invasion of a specific website on the Internet is performed by groups of high-tech skilled activists, –working in small or big circles, through a pre-set time dimension. Consequently, the concerned website will be infected by an information overload, barring its accessibility to users, visitors, and owners.

The five main approaches the hackers may apply to access the computer network and cause damages are the following:

1. Virtual Sit-Ins: aim to cause some breakdown or failure in the mechanisms of the regular processes while deactivating the accessibilities to services and digital equipment. During

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a virtual sit-in, hundreds of activists attempt to access a target website simultaneously and repetitively. If performed correctly, this will cause the target website to run slowly or even collapse entirely, preventing anyone from accessing it.

2. Email Bomb: is a form of net abuse consisting of sending huge volumes of email to an address in an attempt to overflow the mailbox or overwhelm the server.

3. Web Hacks and Computer Break-Ins: in which hackers make illegal access to some website on the information networks, in a bid to replace data with new ones in such manner that it would alter its identity.

4. Viruses: hackers act to deliberately spread viruses and worms on the national information networks and Internet, for causing temporarily or permanently malfunction in the targeted files and operating systems.

5. Denial of Services, DoS: is an attempt to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the means to carry out, motives for, and targets of a DoS attack may vary, it generally consists of efforts to temporarily or indefinitely interrupt or suspend services of a host connected to the Internet, hindering the users’ accessibility due to this overload. Many sensitive and high profile websites were prone to such attacks, the most

prominent of which: Word press, Amazon and others. Despite, there are some products and software with alleged capability to firewall these attacks.

Noteworthy, in the wake of digital and technological revolution, along the last two decades, at least estimation, the world started to experience break ins to complex systems, not limited to military targets, but extending to economical, media, political or even criminal purposes. Experts anticipated “ongoing growth in the number of attacks during 2013, the continuity of the phenomenon (political piracy), the appearance of electronic hostilities and the use of legitimate control tools in the cyberspace under the patronage of governments, along with attacks on computing-based infrastructures, the collapse of the digital privacy, the continual problems with Internet digital and credit authorities, and the incessant growth of malicious software posing threats to the operating systems and mobile devices as well as the manipulated loopholes and programs”.

Given the increasing activities of hackers and the fervent race of governments in this field, which reshapes the modern war, the states came to realize the enormous threats they are facing. The issue is not only about military affairs, but reaches civil life as well. The objective is to “inflict damage and totally

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paralyze whole countries via a keyboard, on the assumption that those who fail to early grasp the importance of the issue, will not be able to survive any confrontation.”

The Anonymous, an army withCyberspace as barracks

There are many elements making of the “Anonymous” group a real army with unique features: capability of breaching information systems, absence of spatial borders in the information space, vagueness of the users’ digital identity, and expanding keenness to trespass the borders of authority or that of the society they live in, thus having tangibly increasing impact. This group is not exclusively limited to professionals of piracy, but rather encompassing teams with writing and video clips making skills, and street activists, besides others who may not have any skills but help in sharing information and messages, especially on the social media networks.” Further advantage in their benefit also is the low costs incurred with availability of information tools on Internet. While this group act on decoding the software

programs, an immense number of programs and devices become available to hackers for striking their targets, with practically no effort or need for big funds. The most important feature of the “Anonymous” is that they are not committed to any doctrine, except their keenness on struggling in absolute freedom behind their computer monitors.

Notably, those affiliated to the “Anonymous” group do not live in an isolated world of their own, in close dark rooms, as filmed in the Hollywood pictures. They are young people aware of the world events and venerating the Internet culture as a symbol of freedom of expression. This group consists of anonymous persons, without any hierarchy. They are wanted by justice for breaching CIA-related websites, and spreading its documents, besides their direct support to “WikiLeaks” via hacking the websites of “MasterCard” and “Amazon”, since the latter have rejected a demand to pump financial aid to WikiLeaks through their websites.

There are many reasons driving Internet pirates of the “Anonymous” group to commit different kinds of computer system break ins: accumulated grudges and hatred; desire to

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destroy the property of others and causing a sort of sabotage; testing the security of any system through synchronized attacks; self-fulfillment; entertainment and inquisitiveness. Hackers may also be lured by financial remunerations paid by governments and bodies for obtaining important data from information system. Responding to such incentives may be the result of poverty, greediness, or the desire to overthrow some rival because of conflict of interests, added to the keenness to explore an unknown and restricted area. The reasons may also be political, relating to individuals or groups sharing specific political beliefs and orientations; which the piracy operations would serve. They may, for example, tend to destroy adverse electronic websites and networks of databases. The use of hackers in this context, mat be said “in support of peoples’ struggle against corrupted governments.”

Computer hats helping rebelsduring Arab uprisings

When some Arab peoples revolted against the autocrats who dominated them for long decades, during what is known as the “Arab Spring”, the Internet was the technological ally, which enabled people to exchange information, organize demonstrations and promote their movement. A debate

ensued about the values of electronic piracy. Contrary to the dominating Arab discourse describing “hackers” as youth technically obsessed, spending their time on trying to breach the security systems of countries and giant companies, just for fun, the rebellions brought the evidence that many computer hats used their skills to back revolution and expose the governments. For example, when the government of the ex-president Hosni Mubarak shut down the Internet services, they helped the Egyptians to find alternatives, enabling them to use the social media networks. The same happened with the Libyan and Yemeni protests. Some members of the Anonymous group hacked the official websites of the regime of Ben Ali, in response to the Internet blackout at the beginning of the revolution. They left a message on the hacked websites: “ We are anonymous. To the Tunisian government: it is not acceptable to crack down on the freedom of expression of your citizens and their free access to information. Any organization involved will be targeted”.

They acted on the conviction that governments use internet to control their citizens. Therefore, the citizens have the right, also via Internet, to expose the secrets and operations of these governments. The Anonymous group had also directed several attacks against websites of the Egyptian government during the 25th January revolution, because of the repression against protesters by the security forces, and in retaliation

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for the Internet and communications shutdown. It was called “operation Egypt”, in which the Telecomics group cooperated to provide extraordinary means enabling the Egyptians to communicate via internet after turning the service off.

Notably, at the very beginning of the protests in Tunisia, there was a widespread of online videos bearing the signature of the Anonymous under “operation Tunisia”. It was as a reaction against the Tunisian authorities and their violence and repression against protesters and bloggers. Sensitive websites, especially those of the defense, interior affairs and foreign ministries, were disrupted. Operations of the same pattern happened in other countries, usually starting from a support message for the peoples, followed by threats and warnings to the governments. This happened in Egypt, Libya, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, East Europe, Zimbabwe, China, Russia, Iran, Syria and other places, in support of the protest waves in these countries or the pro-democracy and anti-corruption movements. That is what also happened in the United States of America, in support for the movement called “Occupy”, but in a different way. The blogs and Facebook news pages related to and siding with the Anonymous group, made a field and in-site follow up and footage more than mere congregation or electronic acts. To such extent, this group participated in a way or another in casting light on these protests via alternative media networks, amidst the regular media blackout, which deliberately gave a blind eye on it or at least in the beginning.”

Transcontinental army insecret chatting rooms

It is hard to identify the number of this group, which becomes a symbol of electronic intruders. They are like an army, taking its barracks in the cyberspace, where they find one another and chat in secret chatting rooms. They are working all over the world having priorities of their own. They are presided by no one. Their motto is, “We are Anonymous,

We do not forgive, We do not forget”. By this phrase they conclude all their written or pictured statements, referring to those who violate freedom of expression and limit the free use of the Internet. Their goal is to expose the corrupt governments, i.e. all the governments as they claim. That is what makes us contemplate a trans-continental phenomenon and a form of the contemporary protesting movement in the 21th century, taking the electronic space as a field for its activities and reactions.

The cyberspace becomes a new battlefield, posing a threat added to the ordinary threats facing the world. Its dimensions and impacts go beyond the geographical and political borders. It projects its repercussions on the future national security of the states. The hackers’ cracking operations are capable of directing overflow of messages to the computer servers, paralyzing them and discontinuing the production systems.

Many military forces in the world have commenced to increase their activity and intensify their efforts in this field which presents a source of power while revealing their weaknesses. For example, the vital infrastructures of the states (such as electricity, water, transportations, networks of leadership and military control, as well as the advanced techniques of the modern warfare) are now based on the cyberspace. In the world’s Internet, today, regimes are toppled, establishments are breached, presidents are deposed. It is a warfare beyond the control of the states and their security forces. It does not recognize agreements, conventions and pacts. Its virtual champions, in addition to states- are individuals and groups much closer to the “sleeping cells” that get activated and hibernated whenever they like.

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The Myth ofAmerica’s Decline

Author: Josef Joffe (Stanford University Press)

Published: November 2013

Publisher: Norton & Co.

The publisher-editor of the German weekly Die Zeit points out in his new book “The Myth of America’s Decline” that the United States has been pursued for much of its history as a superpower by warnings of impending doom. His primary concern is to comment on in-vogue expressions of fast-approaching Chinese superiority over the United States. The writer explains why predictions of such a decline are largely wrong. There is a lack of a solid underlying logic, he argues, when it comes to assuming the collapse of the United States, as has been repeatedly shown in various historical contexts.

Book Review

Periodic Fantasy of America’s Doom The book consists of six chapters which detail the author›s

refutation of those who allege the US is on the verge of collapse. In the first, he deals with five historical periods in which expectations of American defeat were shown to be premature. The first occasion goes back to the struggle with the Soviet Union in the fifties, and the fear that infected Americans during the Cold War regarding the prospects of victory over Communism. Next, and as the US marinated in Vietnamese mud during the sixties, voices once again

predicted that the country was in dire need of time to recover from the war’s effects. America faced even bigger problems during the seventies, from oil embargoes to hostage crises. However, all such problems were overshadowed by the idea of Japanese economic superiority in the eighties, leading to a belief in Japan›s ability to end the United States claim to being a super-power. As everyone knows, that era ended with the deterioration of the Japanese economy at the beginning of the nineties. The author then begins to address the topic of China, discussing the points raised when comparisons are made between the two nations.

Book Review


What is promoted is not necessarilywhat is best

Goff’s book expresses his conviction of US superiority with many convincing arguments and dismisses the idea that China might overtake America, although acknowledging the idea attracts a number of writers. His book decries certain studies and research centers which promote the rise of certain countries, specifically Asian countries. The book also presents many statistics that support his theory of the continuity of American superiority. Goff supports his thesis about the lack of a realistic Chinese threat to the superiority of the United States by submitting a number of twentieth century case studies. America began the competition with the Soviet Union, which ended with the collapse of the latter, as well as such cases of other competitive struggles.

Internal Contexts Goff has not been entirely accurate in his dealing with

the American social, political and economic reality, which represents the foundations upon which many writers base their theories of an imminent American demise. Goff’s focus is more on the situation in China and the extent to which this nation is able to continue its race to achieve superiority. While the author touches upon an account by a Chinese academic who, while analyzing America›s military, cultural and intellectual lead, comments on the social, economic and political difficulties facing the country internally, Goff does not do the same in his analysis of the US America, blandly assessing the country as superior in most areas, but not all.

The book nevertheless contains a rich debate that revolves around the talk of US collapse. The debate leaves many questions unanswered, especially regarding the future socio-economic and political landscapes of both China and the US. The author’s refutations that China is overtaking the United States are made in a comprehensive manner, yet in truth require further reflection and more consideration of future scenarios.

There is no doubt that this book has raised a central issue in international affairs and debates a number of writers currently dealing with the issue. The book certainly contains a pertinent discussion for all, whether experienced diplomat or student of foreign policy alike, but cannot be said to be the last word in analysis or even knowledge of the Chinese-American struggle for power.

The Chasm between China and the United States

The author explains many of China’s strengths and suggests her experience and economic status make her much stronger than Japan, particularly when it comes to factors such as availability of labor and military strength. However, a closer look at the demographic composition of China’s population reveals an increasing number of retirees, a decreasing number of able-bodied workers and the sheer enormity of the challenges facing the State in the near future. Meanwhile, the military budget of the United States exceeds 700 billion dollars and accounts for 40% of all global military expenditure. This demographic and military spending gap differences between the two countries alone most assuredly point to continued American superiority. In the opinion of the author, China›s population and its 100 billion dollar military budget clearly play an important role in future military weakness. Goff points to the global obsession with emerging countries, which include India, Brazil, Russia as well as China, noting that the only thing that unites these countries are their huge size. In early 2010, growth rates in the first three of these countries decreased significantly, reflecting a distorted picture of Chinese superiority and ensuring a panicked global reaction because of it.

Two bitter-sweet optionsfor China’s leadership

The author has considered the context of possible future changes and potential in China. For all its development and unprecedented growth, Chinese society has come to harbor great expectations and hope for openness and greater freedom; such expectations have raised many thorny questions for the country’s political leadership. In this context, Goff holds that the Chinese leadership has just two choices. The first is to move toward more democratic reform, which may affect economic growth. The second is to choose the continuation of its current policy, which is repressive and which represents a danger for the nation’s leadership, namely the possibility of the outbreak of unrest similar to what happened in Tiananmen square previously. That would indeed threaten economic growth, but then, in the opinion of the author, all scenarios will eventually see a slow down in economic growth.

China seeks knowledge, even in America Goff also ventures to make a comparison in the field

of education, an issue of crucial importance in any Sino-American development race. He points unequivocally to American superiority in this area. Prominent Chinese continue to send their children to study in the United States, particularly for research in engineering and science. Most students spend at least five years after the end of their graduate studies, pursuing their doctoral research. The author reveals that 92% of Chinese researchers and 81 % of Indian researchers conform to this pattern. With regard to the prowess of educational institutions, we find that seventeen of the top twenty universities in the world are in the US. There can be no doubt of American domination in the areas of research and development, as well as in business-related technology, when compared to China. The United States excels in the areas of technology, with the presence of such major companies as Microsoft and Google proving the point.

Book Review


Life is Negotiation"Life is Negotiation," is the Diplomatic Institute’s 2014 first publication,

issued as part of its program of studies for this year. The research, authored by Dr. Saeb Erekat, details the art of negotiation clearly and concisely, using a variety of examples. As life may well be negotiation, as far as humanity is concerned, this study seeks the common factors allowing cooperation to prevail on discord, considering that negotiation is not a tool of last resort, but rather is a necessity.The study is divided into seven chapters, which in turn are subdivided.

From the Institute:

The first chapter begins with an attempt to answer the questions: is negotiation a science? Are all of us part of negotiating groups? Then it tackles negotiation as a necessity of life, with whatever falls within its scope, forms, stages, nature and types. In the second part of the same chapter, the study addresses mediation and the key to its success, illustrating what might be included in the mediation process and the duties the mediator should perform to ensure success.

The second chapter focuses on a systematic study of negotiation and the role of mutual self-interest in its pursuit. The first part of this chapter deals with the creation of common ground. The second part is devoted to the ends rather than the means of the negotiation process, highlighting the necessity of identifying the problem and the methodology by which interests and attitudes might be distinguished.

Chapter three deals with the preparation for negotiation, revealing how preparation remains an ongoing process evolving along with negotiation. The chapter also suggests how one might attempt to identify a "critical point" in talks, as well as removing negative personality traits and constrictive patterns of thought, whatever the circumstance.

In the first part of the fourth chapter, attention turns toward setting up the negotiating team and team-methodology, the importance of setting negotiation targets and how to set the agenda. Identifying a hypothetical realm that permits the distinction between the ephemeral and the real, the chapter proposes how to get to truth and transcend assumption. In this way, access to knowledge, information and scientific research prove a basis for negotiation. The second part of the fourth chapter is concerned with the beginning of negotiation and its levels, the responsibility of the negotiator and the theory of need. The third part focuses on the discovery of what the other

side wants and how to ensure the success of an agreement’s implementation at various strategic and state levels.

Chapter five concentrates on negotiating skills and provides answers early on in the section as to how one runs a successful meeting. Further on, this chapter also touches upon how one should deal with the hierarchic superior.

The penultimate chapter addresses the negotiating skill set, describing the core techniques developed by trainers in the United States and referencing the "Seven Elements of Negotiation" by Roger Fisher. Other works cited include those of Professor John Murray, advisor to the Negotiations Support Unit of the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as those of Terry Barnett, who participated in the establishment of a program of crisis management at Harvard University. This part of the paper concludes with a summary of the six common rules that must be honored before, during and after all negotiation.

The final chapter is dedicated to applications and examples, and links this study from a theoretical foundation to the real world, thus serving as a practical guide to various models of the negotiation process. Challenging questions raised include defining who you are before bringing in examples of practical application and procedural rules, in such institutions as the United Nations. Mid-chapter, the study details the practice of negotiation between two people in the presence of a third party before moving on to specify the nature of mediation within this framework, the role of the mediator and the rules. The author also offers a range of tips and specifies obligations. Finally, the fifth section reflects on the world of political negotiation, and most specifically negotiation with the US administration, and gives some insight into the sham negotiations that can take place between Palestinian and Israeli officials with US participation.

Publications



CleptocracyA cleptocracy is a political science term used to describe governments that use their authority to steal the resources

of the nation, – literally, a “regime of thieves”. Such governments usually conform to a pattern in which personal wealth and political power accumulate within a small group of oligarchic officials – the cleptocrats – to the detriment of the national community, and sometimes without even the pretense of seeking to serve the people. The word itself derives from two Greek ones – (κλέπτης) or kleptēs – meaning a thief - and (κράτος) or kratos meaning "power, rule”.

Usually the regime of such governments is dictatorial or autocratic. However, cleptocracies have also developed after democratic systems morphed into oligarchic ones.


Theocracy Theocracy is a form of government in which a state is understood as governed by immediate divine guidance

especially a state ruled by clergy, or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. The term theocracy, comes from the Greek θεοκρατία "rule of God". Members of the clergy monopolize the right to draw up legislation and interpret religious law, combining a temporal and spiritual power at once and enjoying a divine right to rule. Such clergy usually promote claims to infallibility among their followers.

The earliest forms of this type of governments go back to the Jews, as a distortion of the Torah, and a violation of the message of their own prophets, when they started looking at them as lords beside God. Moreover, rabbis began permitting and proscribing and interpreting God’s law according to their own whims. In medieval Europe, bishops would also be temporal rulers, using the Church for their own goals, maintaining kings an princes under their dominion, imposing tithes, selling indulgences, treating the sick, presiding over marriage, granting forgiveness and maintaining authority over what was and what was not permissible.

AristocracyThe aristocracy was originally a social class of nobles in European societies who were the exclusive rulers. The term

derives from the Greek “aristokratia”, meaning "rule of the best". In Ancient Greece, it was conceived as the rule by the best-qualified citizens and was often contrasted favorably with monarchy, the rule of a single individual.

In later times, aristocracy was usually seen as a rule established by rich, landed and privileged groups, an aristocratic class, and was contrasted with democracy.

al diplomacy issue 9

Documents

failed states index

failed state governments

failed states report

provision of services

relevant data

quantitative data

international organizations

international community