When the soccer World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 20, it will hit two major milestones. This will be the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world, bringing the globally loved game to one of the most loved regions. It will also be the first to be held in the Northern Hemisphere during its winter – a necessity in a country where in June and July, when the tournament is usually held, the average daily high is about 107 degrees.
Qatar is one of the smallest, but richest countries in the world: a small peninsula of land, about the size of Connecticut, jutting out into the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf. It will host all games in Doha, the capital and its satellite towns. The nation has seized the global cultural and sporting event as an opportunity to present itself on the world stage. Brand new stadiums, hotels, roads and subways – built at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars – are designed to paint the picture of a hub for sports, tourism and education in the future.
However, the lead up to this World Cup was not dominated by negative headlines.
Human rights groups have drawn attention to unpaid salary, limited labor practices and unexplained deaths Among low-income migrants, some have built air-conditioned stadiums where matches will take place. Football fans have criticized the decision to host the world’s biggest party in a country where homosexuality is illegal – and a place with too few hotels and very few hotels. expensive beer. And an FBI investigation Corruption in global football has cast a shadow over Qatar’s hosting of the tournament.
Qatar’s slickness and grit speak to its larger contradictions. Before the discovery of hydrocarbons, it was one of the poorest places on the planet, its economy dependent on pearl diving. Today it drips with seemingly limitless wealth and ambition. It touts itself as a beacon of free speech and education, home to media giant Al Jazeera and satellite campuses of Georgetown, Cornell and Northwestern. But the local media cannot officially quote the country’s ruler without written permission. And for all the worker abuse allegations, tens of thousands of migrants still flock there in search of a better life.
To help enhance your understanding of the place, here are five books that shed light on some of its most important aspects.
Al-Jazeera: How Arab Television News Challenged the World, by Hugh Miles (2005)
This is a very readable account of the satellite news service that drew Western attention for its coverage of the US-led “war on terror”. The book charts the birth and growth of the channel, helping to dispel myths and misunderstandings about the Arab world along the way.
The Girl Who Fell to Earth: A Memoir, by Sophia Al-Maria (2012)
A touching and humorous coming-of-age memoir by a Qatari American artist, it is one of the rare insights into the lives of Qatari citizens, who make up only 11% of the population. Qatar and is notoriously tight-lipped from outsiders.
Qatar and the Gulf Crisis, by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen (2020)
Qatar’s biggest modern crisis took place from 2017-21 when its neighbors placed the country under economic and political embargo, in a dramatic escalation of longstanding rivalry. in the area. This report moves from origin to (almost) conclusion, showing how badly the initiative backfired, cementing Qatar’s independence and global standing.
Red Cards: FIFA and the Fall of the Most Powerful Men in Sports, by Ken Bensinger (2018)
Several books deal with FIFA, corruption and the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. This article, by a New York Times reporter, receives a nod for speed, clarity and authority. Unrivaled access to the FBI and IRS – the key masterminds of the massive (and ongoing) corruption case being brought against many global game operators.
Changing Qatar: Culture, Citizenship, and Rapid Modernization, by Geoff Harkness (2020)
A sociologist formerly living in Doha gave a clear account of the many communities of Qatar. The author sympathizes with the country’s challenges, but doesn’t stress when it explores issues around freedom of speech, sex, and treatment of migrant workers.
John McManus is the author of “Inside Qatar: Hidden Stories from One of the Wealthiest Countries on Earth,” a story of life in this country told through the eyes of those who call it countryside.
