This thesis investigates what political participation of Qatari citizens looked like during the diplomatic crisis in Qatar from 2017 until 2021. It does so by conducting a qualitative content...Show moreThis thesis investigates what political participation of Qatari citizens looked like during the diplomatic crisis in Qatar from 2017 until 2021. It does so by conducting a qualitative content analysis of articles published by BBC Monitoring throughout the period of the crisis and complements these with sources from news outlets and social media. The purpose of this work is to provide a better understanding of political participation in rentier states. This thesis concludes that four forms of unconventional political participation existed in Qatar during the diplomatic crisis, namely: digital street politics, contentious collective action, social nonmovements, and elite negotiation. These forms of participation primarily occurred on social media which is a result of the internal structure of politics in Qatar, such as the lack of available political arenas to voice opinions, and the lack of a clear political ideology with both the state and the opposition. Qatari political participation occurred largely in support of the regime because Qatari citizens felt that their national identity was threatened and because their livelihoods depend on the state. This, in combination with what other academic literature tells us, indicates that Qatari citizens have become more interested in politics. However, there are no signs that this will translate into more democratic governance.Show less
In this study the research question: ‘What kind of implications has the new political openness in Oman towards the individual freedom of its citizens with regard to the choice of a marriage partner...Show moreIn this study the research question: ‘What kind of implications has the new political openness in Oman towards the individual freedom of its citizens with regard to the choice of a marriage partner? Are answers through interviews with Omani citizens and a literary study? The effect of tribal structures and the idea of a ‘good tribe’ and a ‘good tribe’s name’ in Oman with regard to the choice of a marriage partner is the topic of this endeavor. This research focuses is the ‘modern, free’ marriage choice and what that means for young urban Omani. Especially the impact of thoughts about the tribal structure in Oman regarding the choice of a marriage partner leads the argument of this research. Semi-structured field interviews in Oman were conducted in order to provide insights into the minds of young, urban, educated and (mostly) economically well off individuals and couples. In Oman the choice of getting married is manifested by law. In theory, young couples can get married to whomever they want. However, in reality the marriage market is still divided in parts of society and people from different tribes don’t mix easily, due to the wishes to get married or to get their children married to someone that is part of a ‘good’ tribe. During the semi-structured field interviews the researcher got a glimpse of what people think about marriage in contemporary Oman. The results of the literary study and the fieldwork show how individuals and couples say on the one hand that everything has changed and on the other hand how important a good tribal name is. The results of the semi-structured field interviews show that the interviewees are clearly influenced by their families in their marriage choice, but some would exchange the good name for good fortune and choose someone who is affluent, instead of good tribe’s name. The ambivalence of modernity was noticeable during the interviews. On the one hand the interviewees indicated that they have the desire to marry whomever they want and on the other hand these interviewees indicated that they notice that the strong social matrix of tribal structures, which commend ‘a good tribal name’ exists and can be a leading force in marriage choice. The most important finding of this research is the awareness among Omanis that the free choice is present ‘on paper’ and people know, they could marry freely, but the reality is different and the idea of a tribe and the belonging to one, is more important in an era of social transition than the researcher anticipated beforehand. The citizens try to be ‘good Omanis’ in a modern nation with a strong cultural heritage, which they cherish. The social order is something that is reflected in the interviews. The answers of the interviewees clearly show the social and cultural hierarchy in Omani society, when they talk about future in-laws or relatives. It can be concluded that more research is needed about the impact of modern tribal structures and the thought of a ‘good name’ within these structures. Furthermore, the impact of the tribal culture on young couples who like to get married exogamic or even without the consent of their parents or other elderly advisers should be investigated. Also, further research could explore the concept op ‘romantic love in times of social media’, a topic that has emerged out of the conversations with the interviewees, that often took place after the recording of the actual interview stopped. Further quantitative and qualitative research is recommended to look into the ways a society is changing rapidly and with this, the thoughts about marriage and identity.Show less
