The recently conducted elections in Qatar for a 45-member Shura council, which was mandated by the 2004 Constitution but was repeatedly delayed in the “national interest”, were finally held on the 2 nd of October. There was a lot of hype and optimism associated with these elections, both within and outside Qatar. The official position is that it will be a significant step towards establishing democracy in the country. It also represents Qatar’s ambition to be seen as a progressive and forward-looking nation amongst other Arab nations in the region. The reforms will be a ‘new experiment’ said the Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdulrahman al Thani. The elections are the first of its kind in the tiny Gulf state but the sundry restrictions on voters and council members will limit its near-term policy impact. At the outset, it is premature to expect that successful elections for merely an advisory body will not make any substantial difference, unless and until the political structure is overhauled. The ruling house, which is extremely leery of political participation that could threaten their control, can’t see a deathblow to their own monopoly. Over the decades, they have developed a ‘resilience strategy’ to consolidate their power, which has resulted in their emergence as a ruling oligarchy that consists of the Emir and his family members. It is, therefore, not clear whether the reforms will lead to any meaningful political participation and representation. Earlier reforms didn’t really address the central issue of equal representation of all Qataris. Thus, democracy will remain a façade unless the main levers of power open up. The Shura council The Shura council was established in 1970s and, hence, isn’t a new creation. At its inception, it constituted only 15 members selected from Sheikh family itself. It has been expanded to 45 members now, 30 out of the total 45 were to be elected by Qatari citizens. The other 15 members will be appointed by the Emir himself after the elections for the “Public interest” not specified by any legislation, not even by the Constitution itself. The Arbitrary voter disenfranchisement dilutes the principle of political participation. This stirred domestic and international debate about electoral inclusion and citizenship at the time of announcement of the elections. The Al Murrah tribe has strongly protested against the citizenship law as it disenfranchised some of their members. The substance of these reforms is not groundbreaking in the Arab world given the fact that earlier reforms have not led to any meaningful conclusion. The reforms are mere eyewash, which has more to do with hosting the Fifa world cup next year. This is an exercise of image building at the global level, as a progressive and liberal western ally in the region. Hence, the reforms will have marginal impact on the internal dynamics of the state.
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