THE GLASS PALACE. ILLUSIONS OF FREEDOM AND. DEMOCRACY IN
QATAR. NASSER M. BEYDOUN. &. JENNIFER BAUM. Algora Publishing. New
York ...
T H E GLASS PALACE ILLUSIONS OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN QATAR
NASSER M. BEYDOUN
& JENNIFER BAUM
Algora Publishing New York
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: AN ECONOMIC HOSTAGE IN QATAR 1995: A New Qatar Begins to Take Shape
5 7
Stunning Economic and Population Growth Who'sWhoinQatar Striking Oil
8 8 9
Independence Understanding the Qatari Population A Plan to Move Away from a Carbon-based Economy Setting the Stage for 2022's World Cup
9 10 10 12
CHAPTER 2: A W A N N A B E SUPERPOWER: QATAR'S POLITICAL AND MILITARY INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST
Lebanon Israel Sudan Yemen Tunisia Egypt Libya Syria Influential but Ineffective?
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17
19 20 21 23 25 27 29 30 32
The Glass Palace CHAPTER 3: How A TOTALITARIAN REGIME HAS TAKEN ON THE MANTEL OF BRINGING DEMOCRACY TO THE REGION The Guise of Democracy in Qatar A Decidedly Un-free Society Women Workplace and Working Conditions Nonriti^en Rights Religious Freedoms Internet Freedoms and Freedom of Speech Annual Democracy Forums Hosted by a Totalitarian Regime
33 33 35 36 38 39 40 41 42
Using Al Jazeera as the Mouthpiece of the Government
43
Doha Debates
45
" ""
Shaping the Perception of Youth—in Qatar and Elsewhere
46
Promoting Democracy? Or Disillusioned Dreams of Controlling the World?
47
CHAPTER 4: A SPONSORSHIP SYSTEM AKIN TO SLAVERY Beyond the GCC: An In-Depth Look at the Kafala System
51 54
Filing Complaints and Demonstrating, Despite a Culture of Silence
58
A Country where the Vast Majority of the Population Has No Rights
60
CHAPTER 5: THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN QATAR
61
CHAPTER 6: THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
65
CHAPTER 7: ARABIAN NIGHTMARES
77
CHAPTER 8: BANNED FROM LEAVING Criminal Charges
85 91
Human Rights Department
94
CHAPTER 9: LIFE IN QATAR AND THE NEVER-ENDING ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THE TRAVEL BAN U.S. Embassy
101 104
Removing the Travel Ban
105
Bounced Checks
109
CHAPTER 10: GOING PUBLIC Setting the Record Straight
115 118
Facebook, Twitter &r the Media
120
The Audit Committee
125
CHAPTER 11: THE REAL DOHA, BEHIND THE FANCY FACADE Life on The Pearl
131 133
Day to Day Life
136
The Final Days
137 xiv
Table of Contents
Arriving in Beirut Detroit
143 144
CHAPTER 12: MOVING O N
145
APPENDIX I: IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU: WESTERN COMPANIES OPERATING IN QATAR (AND W H Y THEY ARE)
American Education in the Gulf Desert Research & Development to Bolster Qatar's Knowledge-based Economy ExxonMobil: An American Behemoth in Qatar A Growing Financial Services Sector Rumors of Corruption and the Danger to Foreign Workers APPENDIX II: OTHER WESTERNERS TRAPPED IN QATAR
David Proctor Philippe Bogaert Other Victims
151
152 155 157 157 15 9 161
161' 163 165
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Ian Heywood Tracy Fdwards Yves Pendeliau
165 166 166
APPENDIX III: ADVICE TO AMERICANS LOOKING TO W O R K ABROAD
