From Ad Hoc Diplomacy to Global South Agency: Gulf Monarchies and the Geopolitics of Mediation

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) monarchies have emerged as increasingly influential third-party mediators in conflicts such as those in Yemen, Syria, and Palestine, as well as in the 2017 Gulf rift. Drawing on recent case studies and theoretical frameworks, the article explores three central dimensions: (1) the extent to which Gulf mediation reflects the broader shift from United Nations-led comprehensive accords to more ad hoc, fragmented, and state-driven peace processes; (2) whether the mediation strategies of these small but resource-rich states represent a new form of agency distinct from traditional Western-dominated approaches; and (3) the degree of inclusivity and local ownership in their peace efforts. While Gulf mediators often rely on personalized diplomacy and financial leverage, frequently termed checkbook diplomacy, the paper reveals significant variation in motivations, institutional capacities, and reputational capital among GCC states. The findings underscore the growing relevance of Gulf monarchies in global peacemaking, while also identifying the challenges they face in institutionalizing mediation, ensuring inclusivity, and overcoming intra-Gulf rivalries. This study contributes to both conflict resolution literature and the scholarship on emerging Global South diplomacy by examining how non-traditional actors reshape norms and practices in contemporary international mediation.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) monarchies have emerged as increasingly influential third-party mediators in conflicts such as those in Yemen, Syria, and Palestine, as well as in the 2017 Gulf rift. Drawing on recent case studies and theoretical frameworks, the article explores three central dimensions: (1) the extent to which Gulf mediation reflects the broader shift from United Nations-led comprehensive accords to more ad hoc, fragmented, and state-driven peace processes; (2) whether the mediation strategies of these small but resource-rich states represent a new form of agency distinct from traditional Western-dominated approaches; and (3) the degree of inclusivity and local ownership in their peace efforts. While Gulf mediators often rely on personalized diplomacy and financial leverage, frequently termed checkbook diplomacy, the paper reveals significant variation in motivations, institutional capacities, and reputational capital among GCC states. The findings underscore the growing relevance of Gulf monarchies in global peacemaking, while also identifying the challenges they face in institutionalizing mediation, ensuring inclusivity, and overcoming intra-Gulf rivalries. This study contributes to both conflict resolution literature and the scholarship on emerging Global South diplomacy by examining how non-traditional actors reshape norms and practices in contemporary international mediation.