قطر « QATAR »
— Officially: دولة قطر « Daŭlaḧ Qatar ».
— Seat of government: الدوحة « ɔal-Daŭhaḧ ».
— Status: Not democratic.
— Structure: Power is held by the ruling family, headed by an امير « ɔamīr »; typically each امير « ɔamīr » names a close male relative as heir, who eventually takes power in a palace coup.
— Governing party: آل ثاني « Ɔāl ̃ānī ».
— Head of government: تميم بن حمد آل ثاني « Tamīm bin Hamad ɔāl ̃ānī », امير « ɔamīr » (since 2013).
— Assessment: Highly conservative and restrictive, but slowly liberalizing. A constitution voted on in 2003 will theoretically give some legislative powers to a parliament that would be two-thirds elected and one-third appointed, but the election has not taken place. Elections were held for municipal government in 2007 and 2001, and women were allowed to participate. Home to الجزيرة « ɔal-Ĝazīraḧ », the robust television network. Previous ruler حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني « Hamad bin Xalīfaḧ ɔāl ̃ānī » (امير « ɔamīr », 1995-2013) was largely running the state (since 1992) when he deposed his father, خليفة بن حمد آل ثاني « Xalīfaḧ bin Hamad ɔāl ̃ānī » (1972-95), who had himself deposed his cousin, أحمد بن علي آل ثاني « Ɔahmad bin Calī ɔāl ̃ānī » (1960-72). حمد « Hamad » then abdicated in favor of his son تميم « Tamīm » in 2013, perhaps voluntarily. The state’s gas and oil wealth has given it the ability to involve itself in regional events, militarily and diplomatically.
— FH: 6-5, not free. Econ: 3.18 (138), authoritarian.
— Updated: 2014 November 25.
O.T. FORD