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
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
1. non-binding decisions maintain
sovereignty
2. heightened sense of Arab culture
3. economic, social, military & educational
unity
a. free trade zones, oil benefits, etc...
4. united push for democracy
Disadvantages of Membership
1. nonmember involvement in disputes
2. internal disagreements
a. Palestine/Israel conflict
b. Egypt
3. 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 (‫)جاـمـعـة اــلدوـلاــلعـربـية‬." 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.