The impact of Queen Rania Al Abdullah's diplomacy on shaping global public opinion towards Gaza… A master's thesis by researcher Hala Al-Khatib at the University of Jordan
A master's thesis entitled: was discussed at the Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II Faculty of International Studies at the University of Jordan.
“Women’s Diplomacy, Soft Power, and the Role of Queen Rania Al Abdullah in Influencing International Public Opinion: The War on Gaza as a Case Study (2023–2025)” by student Hala Muhammad Jamil Al-Khatib, in fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining a Master’s degree in Diplomatic Studies.
The thesis expanded to analyze the role played by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah as an unofficial diplomatic actor, through the use of soft power tools, humanitarian and media discourse to influence international public opinion during the war on Gaza, while studying the relationship between official Jordanian diplomacy and the symbolic and media diplomacy that Her Majesty practiced through international platforms, global media and social media platforms.
The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach and discourse and content analysis, through studying television interviews, speeches and digital publications related to Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, in addition to analyzing the international media, political and public interaction with this discourse, with the aim of measuring its impact on shaping international perceptions towards the war on Gaza and the Palestinian issue.
The study's findings revealed that Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah successfully reframed the war on Gaza within a global humanitarian and ethical context, moving beyond traditional security and political approaches. This was achieved by focusing on the protection of civilians, the rights of children and women, and rejecting double standards in dealing with civilian victims. The study also demonstrated that her humanitarian discourse contributed to strengthening international sympathy for the Palestinian cause and drew the attention of the media and global public opinion to the humanitarian dimensions of the war.
The study confirmed that Her Majesty Queen Rania, through her international media presence, interviews with global networks, and social media platforms, has effectively employed soft power and symbolic diplomacy to enhance Jordan's international image as a nation whose discourse is grounded in moderation, moral legitimacy, and the defense of human values. The findings also demonstrated that this role was not a replacement for official Jordanian diplomacy, but rather a supportive and complementary extension of it, within what the study termed "communicative integration" between official discourse and symbolic humanitarian discourse.
The study also showed that feminist and humanitarian diplomacy has become one of the modern paths that influence international relations, especially in light of the rising role of digital media and the influence of global public opinion on humanitarian and political issues, stressing that unofficial figures with high credibility and symbolism can play an influential role in supporting the foreign policies of countries and enhancing their international presence.
The study recommended the need to develop more organized national strategies to employ soft power tools, humanitarian diplomacy and media, and to benefit from symbolic and influential figures in enhancing the state’s image and defending Arab and humanitarian causes in international forums, in addition to expanding academic interest in topics of informal diplomacy and the role of women in international relations.
The discussion committee consisted of Professor Dr. Walid Khaled Abu Dalbouh as supervisor and chairman, and Professor Dr. Mazen Al-Aqili as a member, and Professor Dr. Muhammad Bani Salameh as an external examiner.
