Ever since the appalling events of 9/11 and the war in Iraq the
developments in the Arab world are back again in the focus of public interest. But what is this undefined body called the Arab world? Is there a common Arab voice, and if so, who is representing it?
The Arab world is often taken to mean the 22 members of the League of Arab States, better known as the “Arab League”, accounting at present for about 300 million people, or roughly the same as the United States. The purpose of this treatise is to introduce this regional organisation, to the ignorant reader in order to give a better understanding of what the Arab League is and what it was meant to be.
To achieve this, initially, the genesis of the Arab League will be regarded. In the following, after the short historical overview, the legal framework of the Arab League, the Pact of the League of Arab States, and its effects on the organisation will be described. Therein the main goals and principles, the actual organisation and structure, including the major organs and questions of membership are amplified.
The third part will discuss the actual achievements of the Arab League. Concluding the main results will be summarized and a short outlook in the possible future of the League will be dared.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Genesis of the League of Arab States
a. Arab Nationalism
b. The political situation in the Middle East after World War I
c. Great Britain
d. Palestine
e. Egypt
3. The contractual foundations – The Pact of the League of Arab States
a. Objective target and principles
b. Membership
c. Organisation and structure
i. The League Council
ii. The General Secretariat
iii. The Arab Summit Conference
iv. Further special organisations
4. Attainments in the work of the League of Arab States
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This working paper examines the historical origins, legal framework, and functional effectiveness of the League of Arab States, aiming to provide a clear understanding of its purpose, institutional structure, and practical achievements in regional cooperation.
- Historical context and driving forces of the Arab League's foundation
- Legal foundations based on the Pact of the League of Arab States
- Organizational structure and decision-making processes
- Economic and political integration efforts among member states
- Critical evaluation of the organization's current effectiveness and future outlook
Excerpt from the Book
c. Great Britain
The Middle East played an important strategic role in World War II. It was of immense strategic importance especially for the Britains. Great Britain tried to win the Arab countries over in the threatening conflict. Because of the coup d´etat in Iraq and the fact that German and Italian troops were gaining ground in Northern Africa, the British tried to enhance their own prestige in the Middle East. Up to World War II Britain ruled according to the principle “divide and rule”, but now it tried to influence the Arab countries according to the principle “unite and rule”.
In a statement from the 29th May 1941 the British Foreign Minister Anthony Eden declared that Britain would support any move towards Arab unity. The reactions of the Arab states on the British initiative were rather cautious. They were much busier with their own problems, e.g. Syria and Lebanon were fighting for their independence of the French mandate. So Great Britain had to seize the initiative again, and on the 24th February 1943 Eden declared in a speech in front of the House of Commons: “As I have already made plain, the British Government would view with sympathy any movement among the Arabs to promote economic, cultural or political unity, but clearly the initiative in any scheme would have to come from the Arabs themselves. So far as I am aware no such scheme which commands general approval has yet been worked out.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the paper, introduces the Arab League as a regional organization, and outlines the methodology and literature used for the analysis.
2. The Genesis of the League of Arab States: This section explores the historical driving forces behind the foundation, including the rise of Arab nationalism, the geopolitical situation post-World War I, and the influence of British policy and regional conflicts.
3. The contractual foundations – The Pact of the League of Arab States: This chapter details the charter of the organization, its stated objectives, principles of membership, and the formal organizational structure including the League Council and Secretariat.
4. Attainments in the work of the League of Arab States: This part evaluates the practical achievements and limitations of the League, specifically regarding economic integration, trade agreements, and conflict resolution.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the League's struggle to balance individual state sovereignty with the broader desire for unity, questioning the organization's current relevance and future viability.
Keywords
Arab League, Arab Nationalism, Middle East, Regional Organization, Pact of the League of Arab States, Arab Unity, Sovereignty, Political Integration, Economic Cooperation, Geopolitics, Member States, Diplomacy, Institutional Structure, Conflict Resolution, Pan-Arabism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary purpose of this working paper?
The paper aims to introduce the League of Arab States to the reader by examining its history, its legal charter, its institutional framework, and its actual performance in regional cooperation.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the analysis?
Key themes include the historical impetus for the League's creation, the legal obligations defined in its Pact, the structure of its various organs, and an assessment of its success in fostering political and economic integration.
What is the central research question?
The research explores what the Arab League is, what it was originally intended to achieve, and whether it has successfully fulfilled its role as a regional representative and integrating body.
Which scientific methods or sources are utilized?
The author primarily relies on a qualitative review of academic literature, including dissertations, specialized books on the subject, and relevant newspaper articles to ensure current analysis.
What subjects are addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body focuses on the genesis of the organization, the contents of the Pact, the mechanisms of the League Council and General Secretariat, and an evaluation of historical attainments such as the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Arab League, regional organization, sovereignty, political integration, and Pan-Arabism.
How does the author evaluate the "status quo" of the League?
The author concludes that the League is largely ineffective because the tribal and political interests of individual member states prevent the necessary compromise required for true supranational integration.
What role does the "Arab Summit Conference" play according to the text?
The author notes that while the Summit Conference eventually became a central authority, its recent history—marked by cancellations and low attendance—further highlights the diminishing public and political interest in the organization.
- Quote paper
- Benjamin Hätinger (Author), 2006, The League of Arab States, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/129412
