How Qatar is Trying to Become the Switzerland of the Middle East

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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Lead Motion Design by Max Moser
Motion Design by Sara Stoltman, Derek Brown
Audio and Music by Manni Simon, Donovan Bullen
Additional Editing by José Gámez
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
Supervising Producers Graham Haerther, Travis Southerland

References

[Wendoverproductions]

A couple of points:
1) Nowhere in this video did we suggest that Qatar is, in fact, diplomatically neutral. The video is about what they're aspiring to be and how they're going about that.
2) A substantial portion of the video is devoted to discussing how true "neutrality" is almost impossible in diplomatic contexts.
3) When discussing "neutrality" in this video, we phrase it as (verbatim) "an interpretation or neutrality" or "their perception of neutrality." We never characterize it as our or an outside observer's perception of neutrality.
4) When discussing Al Jazeera's reputation, we were careful to phrase it in a comparative manner. They are *more* trustworthy than most media outlets in the Middle East, largely since most media outlets in the region are state-controlled, whereas Al Jazeera is state-owned with only indirect state influence.
5) While I understand critique about not discussing the Kafala system, we chose not to discuss it since it is largely irrelevant to the topic of the country's diplomatic strategy and well-known considering it was the core critique of FIFA's decision to allow Qatar to host the World Cup. I understand why some might consider this an omission regardless, but I wanted to clarify to assure that it has nothing to do with avoiding critique of Qatar and its human rights violations (in fact, we've discussed this very topic in other videos.)

[bababababababa]

Only difference is Switzerland ACTUALLY pays its foreign workers

[midnightanimal]

"The art of good business is being a good middleman."

[callumsomerset]

3:49 “rain here is measured in millimeters” Sam rain everywhere is measured in millimetres

[korakys]

One doesn't _try_ to become neutral like Switzerland. Switzerland's neutrality is achieved through the subtle art of _not trying._ In the mid east it is Oman who is like Switzerland. Oman doesn't really try to do anything, but is quite happy to act as a neutral meeting ground for others.

Qatar has actively backed sides in various wars, like in Libya. Although it does seem to be turning away from this strategy as these sorts of wars seldom have outright winners.

[tomalexander]

The comment section is certainly good for Wendovers engagement figures.

[TheinnerCircl]

Hard not to be wealthy when you have millions of indentured servants as "workers"

[DRDJGHOST]

I would classify Qatar as diplomatic rather than neutral. Qatar does not officially recognize Israel, yet it recognizes the Taliban in Afghanistan.

[TGX]

I do understand your intention with the comparison to Switzerland is to show that Qatar wants to be a neutral powerhouse, however Switzerland's neutrality is vastly different.

Ignoring the fact that Swiss neutrality is currently changing because of the war un Ukraine, Siwtzerland was always neutral in the sense that they wanted to be completely left out of anything and only handle the money of everyone.

They never really got into international diplomacy, and for example they would never alloe a foreign military base or HQ of a terrorist organisation in their country.

[nomodzreal]

Maybe a better title "How Qatar is trying to become the Switzerland of the Middle East". Maybe Switzerland has some baggage I am not aware of but the current title seems far too friendly to a nation that has rampant slave labour and was recently in hot water for the Olympics they held. Odd choice of words

Edit: Current baggage on the same level of Qatar is what I meant. Good call out on the nazi gold thing, slipped my mind

[reefgb]

There's a tiny tiny difference between Switzerland and Qatar.
Switzerland doesn't fund terror groups and doesn't have biased news channel spreading lies, hate and racism around the globe.

Again, small difference bro.

[defcry_again]

Switzerland is like, I don't want to deal with anyone. Qatar, is the opposite.

[wdjostj]

Neutral is a bit of a strong word… they clearly have a certain propensity towards certain actors…

[aidenhall]

“that they could brush shoulders in the supermarket is bazarre” I see what you did there

[BlackHawkTejas]

If Qatar is neutral, then china is a democracy, US really cares about human life, uk never colonized anyone, India has the world's least population, ukraine is the most non-corrupt country, Earth is flat, Japan has no industrialization etc...etc...

[officiallyunofficial]

I've struggled to focus on the information in the more recent videos because the background music is too distracting. I'm not sure that videos like these deserve suspenseful orchestral pieces, especially if it draws the audience away from the facts being presented.

[huangGQ]

Having money is more useful than having morals.

[YellowUmbrella]

More Singapore than Switzerland, in my opinion.

[mtathos_]

With a bit more of slavery and worker abuse. What an insult to Switzerland this claim is.

[De_Sam]

I know some others have mentioned that already but...
Rain EVERYWHERE is measured in millimetres. That's just the internal standard, as 1 liter of water over an area of 1 square meter stands one millimeter deep. Or in other words: 1mm of precipitation = 1L/m²

And 74mm is 7.4cm, which is more that 1cm, not less ( 3:55 )