A Family Affair in Doha

For a brief moment, the world took notice of tiny Qatar. The announcement on 27 June that Crown Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani had deposed his father, Emir Khalifah, made headlines across the world. Just as rapidly, the affair faded from sight. As international recognition of the palace coup flooded in the outside world relaxed, satisfied that the new Emir would not institute any dramatic changes.