League of Arab States Yash Shah

Emblem of the Arab League

Flag of the Arab League

What is the League of Arab States? regional organization of Arab countries in N. Africa, Horn of Africa, & SW Asia also known as Arab League formed in Cairo, Egypt on March 22, 1945 6 Founding States: Iraq - Saudi Arabia Jordan - Egypt Syria - Lebanon

Charter & Purpose approved on March 22, 1945 official purpose is: “draw closer the relations between member States and coordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries”

History 1942: British begin promoting idea of Arab League in an attempt win over Arabs as allies in war against Germany. 1946-1965: Cultural Treaty Joint Defense & Economic Cooperation Economic & Social Council UN recognition ALESCO & PLO established Common market

History 2005: Free trade zone between 17 Arab League countries comes into force 2008: Arab Charter on Human Rights 2010-2012: Arab Spring took pro-democracy stance 2011: Syria suspended from Arab League

Membership in Arab League

Leadership The Council: Consists of representatives from each member state (one vote each) Council decisions binding only for states that voted for them

Leadership General Secretariat: administrative & executive functions headed by Secretary General elections every 5 years currently Dr. Nabil Elaraby (since 2011)

Advantages of Membership non-binding decisions maintain sovereignty heightened sense of Arab culture economic, social, military & educational unity free trade zones, oil benefits, etc... united push for democracy

Disadvantages of Membership nonmember involvement in disputes internal disagreements Palestine/Israel conflict Egypt can diminish nationalism in favor of Arabism

International Impact - European Union strong relations with EU, especially with France supported Arab League's Peace Initiative of 2002

International Impact - China Chinese economic boom → increased demand for oil → cooperation with Arab League 2008: beginning of annual forums between PRC and Arab League in economics, trade, environmental studies, nuclear weapons

International Impact - Russia Russia holds strong ties in Arab region from Soviet era trying to regain strength in Arab League by supporting its causes in UN Security Council

International Impact - Iran Iran is not an Arab State (Persian) Sunni vs. Shi’a dispute Iran has Shi’a majority Arab leaders singled out Iran as the greatest threat to regional stability pushing towards diplomacy in solving nuclear issue to avoid military conflict

Works Cited "Arab League (جامعة الدول العربية)." Arab League. Ed. Klaus Kästle. One World - Nations Online, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. "League of Arab States, Arab Charter on Human Rights, May 22, 2004." University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. University of Minnesota, 2005. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. "Pact of the League of Arab States, 22 March 1945". The Avalon Project. Yale Law School. 1998. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. 15 March 2015. Sly, Liz. "Syria Suspended from Arab League." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. "Timeline: Arab League." BBC News. BBC, 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2015. Trager, Eric. "Behind the Arabs' Iran Double Talk." New York Post. NYP Holdings, Inc, 13 Dec. 2010. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.