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[University Name] [Introduction to International Relations] [Task Name] [Student’s Name] [Submission Date] The Arab League Introduction OPEC is one of the most famous intergovernmental organization of oil producing companies. It is formally termed and known as “The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries” comprising mainly of Independent countries which produce and export the oil to a significant level. It is a permanent intergovernmental organization which was formed in the year of 1945 in the month of September. It was created at the Baghdad Conference on 10 to 14 September where countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Venezuela were present and these countries were the root cause behind establishment of this intergovernmental organization. The headquarters of the OPEC is located in the Vienna city of Austria. The main mandate of this intergovernmental organization is to create and coordination and to unify the policies of petroleum in all countries exporting it. Origin As mentioned earlier, the Arab League was established in the year of 1945 with six member countries. Later on, Yemen also joined in the same year, hence the member states became seven in number. Currently the number of members is 22 despite of the fact that membership of Syria was suspended in the year 2011 due to government repression over there. If history of the Arab league is opened, it is quite evident from the ancient studies that it was formed following the adoption of Alexandria protocol just one year back to its formation. The date of its formation was 22nd of March. The main purpose of its formation was to create such a regional organization which will take care of economic development, disputes and conflicts solvation and to coordinate strategic as well as political aims. Other than the first six member states, the other 16 countries joined latterly on different dates and in different years. In the year of 1948, joint intervention was the first ever major action of Arab League which was about the uprooting the state of Israel, on the behalf of majority of Arab population. The main problem which this joint intervention faced was that Transjordan (now as Jordan) had agreed to Israelis to divide the Palestinian state into two smaller states (Howstuffworks, 2008). The second major act taken by Arab league was the creation and development of mutual defense in the year of 1950. In the year of 1965, a common market was established in order to develop the economy and get rid of economic chaos. Countries which joined latterly include United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Sudan, Somalia, Southern Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, Libya, Comoros, Qatar, Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Bahrain and Djibouti. In 1979, Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel that is why their membership was cancelled and the headquarters of Arab league moved to Tunis from Egypt. Purpose Formation of Arab league had a variety of purposes and aims and it mainly focuses on the strengthening of Arab World. Some objectives and aims of its formation include: Strengthen the relationship between the member countries. Create a strong coordination in the policies of member states. To promote the interests which are common with all member states. To develop close relationships between all the member countries. To increase collaboration for different strategic actions. Safety of the sovereignty and independence of Arab countries. To deal with the general interests and affairs (One World Nations Online, 2015). To create such a regional organization which will take care of economic development, disputes and conflicts solvation. To coordinate strategic as well as political aims of Arab countries. There were number of aims of Arab League behind its formation but its main purpose is to strengthen the Arab world by creating a collaborated grid of all member states. The charter of Arab league mainly focuses on the above mentioned objectives and purposes. The dealing of the issues can either be related to the finance, commerce, business, and currency or even, social, cultural and health affairs followed by transport, travel, nationality and communication affairs (Arab League Online, 2012). Structure and Leadership As like other intergovernmental organizations, Arab League also focuses on wellbeing of its member states in economic, social, political, national and religious interests. Arab league has countered to solve numerous conflicts of Arab countries making them financially and politically strong. In context of structure and leadership of this intergovernmental organization, it is quite evident from its historic studies that it has a standard charter since its formation. The Arab league practices a specific structure and the format of leadership is predefined in most of the meetings. Every state of the Arab league has the right to cost one vote and all these member states join together to form a council. The decisions which are taken by this council are necessary for everyone to follow because the council is generally unanimous. With that, some specific decisions made by the council are specific to some members who need to follow them. There are two meetings held annually by council of Arab league and these meetings are convened in the months of March and September, after regular gaps of six months. If context of leadership is discussed, the Arab League has a standardized leadership pattern for the council. General secretariat of the Arab league entrusts the day to day running which is headed by a secretary general. This general secretariat of the Arab league has the authority over both the council and the league as it is the executive body of council and administrative unit of the league. Currently the leadership of Arab league is being practiced by His Excellency Mr.Amr Moussa who is the secretary general of its secretariat (League of Arab States UK, 2015). Methods of Operation The charter of the Arab League has given the authority to council of league as the supreme power in league. The method of operation of Arab league totally bases on its charter because it defines the ways of formation, voting, competence and rules of league. An affiliate or standing committee assists the method of operation in all meetings. Meeting of the Arab league are held two times in one year to discuss all the important issues and to draw solutions for them. The agenda varies meeting after meeting. The representatives of member states mainly including foreign ministers and the delegates are included in the general council of Arab league and they make it operative (League of Arab States UK, 2015). The method of operation of Arab League is quite simple because each state has been affiliated with power of one vote. Voting is conducted for any specific decision, operational bill or issue and focusing on the results of that voting, operative decisions are taken. If voting is conducted for the eruption of hostilities between two member states, one state who acts aggressively is denied with the right of voting. The operative decisions of the Arab league are binding on all the states but it varies from issue to issue as any decision of a conflict between two states will only be applicable and to be followed by only those two states. Degree of Success Since the formation of Arab League, it has been seventy years passed. The discussion of degree of success of this intergovernmental organization is not anything to be covered in some words because this organization has gone in an extra mile for Arab countries and the whole Middle East. Whether it be the case of economic chaos and financial issues or the case of developing a joint force (Strat for Global Intelligence, 2015), whether it be the case of creating a common international market or the case of condemning the shameful acts of Israel in Palestinian state, Arab league has played its part everywhere. Arab League has significantly met with all the challenges put forth to it by external as well as internal invasions and has gained success in all its aims. Though there are number of objectives which are still to be achieved by Arab league but after seeing its history of successes, it is not difficult to say that it will manage to achieve all of its goals. Role in UAE and Other Gulf States The role of Arab League in the United Arab Emirates is not anything hidden. Since its formation, Arab League has played its role significantly in all the issues and objective factors related to the UAE. The contemplation of a joint force, the condemnation of Israeli acts against Philistine, meeting with the period of recession and economic chaos and the development of an international Arab market, all are the interests and stances where Arab League has played its role for United Arab Emirates. It can also be said that after joining the Arab League in year of 1971, United Arab Emirates has not looked back and it is passing the steps of development and progress in a quick manner (Pinfari, 2009). Conclusion Arab League is one of the best known intergovernmental Organization of the Arab World and it was established in the year of 1945 in Egypt. Initially there were six countries as members but soon after its formation, the number of members increased to 22 in total. The main objective of Arab league is to develop the collaboration among member states in order to work in a better vetted way for the mutual interests. Arab League has played a significant role in the economic development of United Arab Emirates and it is still achieving its different aims and objectives. References Arab League Online, 2012. Presentation of the Arab League. Arab League Online: An Independent view of the Arab World. Retrieved 12th April from: http://www.arableagueonline.org/hello-world/#more-1 Howstuffworks, 2008. Arab League. Retrieved 12th April from: http://history.howstuffworks.com/asian-history/arab-league.htm League of Arab States UK, 2015. Internal System of the Council. Retrieved 12th April from: http://www.arableague.org.uk/league/internal_system.html One World Nations Online, 2015. Arab League. Retrieved 12th April from: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/arab_league.htm Pinfari, M. (2009). Nothing but failure?: the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council as mediators in Middle Eastern conflicts. Crisis States Research Centre. Strat for Global Intelligence, 2015. The Arab League Contemplates a Joint Force. Retrieved 12th April from: https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/arab-league-contemplates-joint-force The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2013. Arab League. 6th Ed. Retrieved 12th April from: https://www.questia.com/read/1E1-ArabLeag/arab-league 9