The ambitious peacemaking roles pursued by both Norway and Qatar, two small states with some similar and more different traits, constituted the basis for an Expert Workshop hosted in Oslo from 9–10 May 2017, with participants including officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries, as well as scholars from CHS and PRIO.
The Norwegian and Qatari models of mediation offer potential for a rich comparison that has not yet been undertaken. While on the face it, Norway and Qatar may seem to be a gulf apart, upon deeper reflection there are considerable similarities, and, by extension, potential complementarities. This paper reflects the main insights from the May 2017 workshop, and is aimed not as much at developing conclusions, as it is at formulating questions and hypotheses that can inform the analytical framework, as well as the case selection, for a future comparative research project.
