Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy

<p dir="ltr">This article, titled "Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy," analyzes how the state of Qatar utilized the civil aviation sector as a strategic diplomatic instrument to overcome the 2017 air blockade. It frames the crisis a...

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Main Author: Abdelrahman Kamel (23817138) (author)
Published: 2026
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author Abdelrahman Kamel (23817138)
author_facet Abdelrahman Kamel (23817138)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Abdelrahman Kamel (23817138)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-04-30T11:08:18Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.57945/manara.qnl.32076237.v1
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/Reclaiming_the_Skies_A_Historical_Case_Study_of_Qatar_s_Aviation_Diplomacy/32076237
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Human society
Political science
Law and legal studies
International and comparative law
Aviation Diplomacy
Civil Aviation
Foreign Policy Tool
National Brand Image
Multilateral Actors
ICAO
IATA
International Regulatory Bodies
Chicago Convention (1944)
Canada’s Mediating Role
Air Sovereignty
Technical Cooperation
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
2017 Gulf Crisis
Air Blockade
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Transit Agreement (IASTA)
Geopolitical Strategy
Aviation Infrastructure
Soft Power
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Preprint
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
preprint
description <p dir="ltr">This article, titled "Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy," analyzes how the state of Qatar utilized the civil aviation sector as a strategic diplomatic instrument to overcome the 2017 air blockade. It frames the crisis as a critical test of international regulatory frameworks and state sovereignty.<br><br>The core of the study details how Qatar navigated the "illegal" closure of airspace by neighboring states by appealing to multilateral bodies like ICAO and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). By leveraging the Chicago Convention and the International Air Services Transit Agreement (IASTA), Qatar successfully shifted the conflict from a regional political standoff to a global legal dispute. The research demonstrates how Qatar’s national carrier was transformed into an "independent diplomatic subject," allowing the state to maintain global connectivity, assert its sovereign rights, and eventually secure a legal victory that delegitimized the blockade on the international stage.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Disclaimer: This work was supported by Qatar National Library under the QNL Fellowship Program. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Qatar National Library.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_3ed17050b0b20884637d056899a110aa
identifier_str_mv 10.57945/manara.qnl.32076237.v1
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/32076237
publishDate 2026
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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repository_id_str
rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation DiplomacyAbdelrahman Kamel (23817138)Human societyPolitical scienceLaw and legal studiesInternational and comparative lawAviation DiplomacyCivil AviationForeign Policy ToolNational Brand ImageMultilateral ActorsICAOIATAInternational Regulatory BodiesChicago Convention (1944)Canada’s Mediating RoleAir SovereigntyTechnical CooperationGulf Cooperation Council (GCC)2017 Gulf CrisisAir BlockadeInternational Court of Justice (ICJ)Transit Agreement (IASTA)Geopolitical StrategyAviation InfrastructureSoft Power<p dir="ltr">This article, titled "Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy," analyzes how the state of Qatar utilized the civil aviation sector as a strategic diplomatic instrument to overcome the 2017 air blockade. It frames the crisis as a critical test of international regulatory frameworks and state sovereignty.<br><br>The core of the study details how Qatar navigated the "illegal" closure of airspace by neighboring states by appealing to multilateral bodies like ICAO and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). By leveraging the Chicago Convention and the International Air Services Transit Agreement (IASTA), Qatar successfully shifted the conflict from a regional political standoff to a global legal dispute. The research demonstrates how Qatar’s national carrier was transformed into an "independent diplomatic subject," allowing the state to maintain global connectivity, assert its sovereign rights, and eventually secure a legal victory that delegitimized the blockade on the international stage.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Disclaimer: This work was supported by Qatar National Library under the QNL Fellowship Program. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Qatar National Library.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></p>2026-04-30T11:08:18ZTextPreprintinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextpreprint10.57945/manara.qnl.32076237.v1https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/Reclaiming_the_Skies_A_Historical_Case_Study_of_Qatar_s_Aviation_Diplomacy/32076237CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/320762372026-04-30T11:08:18Z
spellingShingle Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
Abdelrahman Kamel (23817138)
Human society
Political science
Law and legal studies
International and comparative law
Aviation Diplomacy
Civil Aviation
Foreign Policy Tool
National Brand Image
Multilateral Actors
ICAO
IATA
International Regulatory Bodies
Chicago Convention (1944)
Canada’s Mediating Role
Air Sovereignty
Technical Cooperation
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
2017 Gulf Crisis
Air Blockade
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Transit Agreement (IASTA)
Geopolitical Strategy
Aviation Infrastructure
Soft Power
status_str publishedVersion
title Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
title_full Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
title_fullStr Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
title_full_unstemmed Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
title_short Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
title_sort Reclaiming the Skies: A Historical Case Study of Qatar’s Aviation Diplomacy
topic Human society
Political science
Law and legal studies
International and comparative law
Aviation Diplomacy
Civil Aviation
Foreign Policy Tool
National Brand Image
Multilateral Actors
ICAO
IATA
International Regulatory Bodies
Chicago Convention (1944)
Canada’s Mediating Role
Air Sovereignty
Technical Cooperation
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
2017 Gulf Crisis
Air Blockade
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Transit Agreement (IASTA)
Geopolitical Strategy
Aviation Infrastructure
Soft Power