Arab League
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Quick Facts
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The Arab League (Arabic: الجامعة العربية), officially called the League of Arab States (Arabic: جامعة الدول العربية), is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia (Middle East). It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (renamed Jordan in 1949), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a member on 5 May 1945. The Arab League currently has 22 members including one, Syria, whose participation was suspended in November 2011. The main goal of the league is to "Draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries."
Through institutions such as the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League's Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU), the Arab League facilitates political, economic, cultural, scientific and social programs designed to promote the interests of the Arab world. It has served as a forum for the member states to coordinate their policy positions, to deliberate on matters of common concern, to settle some Arab disputes, and to limit conflicts such as the 1958 Lebanon crisis. The League has served as a platform for the drafting and conclusion of many landmark documents promoting economic integration. One example is the Joint Arab Economic Action Charter which sets out the principles for economic activities in the region.
Each member state has only one vote in the League Council, while decisions are binding only for those states that have voted for them. The aims of the league in 1945 were to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its members, and to mediate disputes among them or between them and third parties. Furthermore, the signing of an agreement on Joint Defense and Economic Cooperation on 13 April 1950 committed the signatories to coordination of military defense measures.
The Arab League has played a role in shaping school curricula, advancing the role of women in the Arab societies, promoting child welfare, encouraging youth and sports programs, preserving Arab cultural heritage, and fostering cultural exchanges between the member states. Literacy campaigns have been launched, intellectual works reproduced, and modern technical terminology is translated for the use within member states. The league encourages measures against crime and drug abuse, and deals with labour issues particularly among the emigrant Arab workforce.
Through institutions such as the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League's Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU), the Arab League facilitates political, economic, cultural, scientific and social programs designed to promote the interests of the Arab world. It has served as a forum for the member states to coordinate their policy positions, to deliberate on matters of common concern, to settle some Arab disputes, and to limit conflicts such as the 1958 Lebanon crisis. The League has served as a platform for the drafting and conclusion of many landmark documents promoting economic integration. One example is the Joint Arab Economic Action Charter which sets out the principles for economic activities in the region.
Each member state has only one vote in the League Council, while decisions are binding only for those states that have voted for them. The aims of the league in 1945 were to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its members, and to mediate disputes among them or between them and third parties. Furthermore, the signing of an agreement on Joint Defense and Economic Cooperation on 13 April 1950 committed the signatories to coordination of military defense measures.
The Arab League has played a role in shaping school curricula, advancing the role of women in the Arab societies, promoting child welfare, encouraging youth and sports programs, preserving Arab cultural heritage, and fostering cultural exchanges between the member states. Literacy campaigns have been launched, intellectual works reproduced, and modern technical terminology is translated for the use within member states. The league encourages measures against crime and drug abuse, and deals with labour issues particularly among the emigrant Arab workforce.
History of League
Arab Citizens in general perceive themselves as one people divided among a number of states with history, geography, language, culture, and socio-economic interests propelling them to forge one great Arab Nation (Arabism). The British Empire realized this in the early part of the twentieth century, which helped them secure the cooperation of the Arabs, leading them to revolt (Arab Revolt) against the Turkish Ottoman Empire during World War I. The British promised to help the Arabs establish a united Arab kingdom under Sherif Hussein of Mecca, which would encompass the Asian part of the Arab World (including the modern day Arabian peninsula, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Jordan). After winning the war, however, the British betrayed Sharif Hussein and instead helped divide the region into mini states, implementing their policy of "Divide and Rule".(Sykes-Picot Agreement)
The British needed Arab cooperation once more during World War II, and again returned to play the Pan Arabism card by encouraging the formation of the League. In 1942, The United Kingdom promotes the idea of an Arab League in an attempt to win over Arabs as allies in war against Germany.
Many Arab intellectuals believe that the British did not want the League to act as a step towards Arab unity, but actually used the League to prevent it. In 1944 official representatives from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, North Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan (Jordan and Palestine) meet in Alexandria, Egypt, and agree to form the League of Arab States. Arab states sign the Arab League Pact, formally inaugurating the League in 22 March 1945. Several suggestions were made for the name of the organization: Iraq suggested Arab Union; Syria suggested Arab Alliance; and Egypt proposed the Arab League. Egypt's proposal was adopted, and later amended to the League of Arab States.
The British needed Arab cooperation once more during World War II, and again returned to play the Pan Arabism card by encouraging the formation of the League. In 1942, The United Kingdom promotes the idea of an Arab League in an attempt to win over Arabs as allies in war against Germany.
Many Arab intellectuals believe that the British did not want the League to act as a step towards Arab unity, but actually used the League to prevent it. In 1944 official representatives from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, North Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan (Jordan and Palestine) meet in Alexandria, Egypt, and agree to form the League of Arab States. Arab states sign the Arab League Pact, formally inaugurating the League in 22 March 1945. Several suggestions were made for the name of the organization: Iraq suggested Arab Union; Syria suggested Arab Alliance; and Egypt proposed the Arab League. Egypt's proposal was adopted, and later amended to the League of Arab States.
Member states
The Arab League has 21 member states excluding one, Syria, whose participation was suspended in November 2011. The Arab League was founded in Cairo in 1945 by Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan (Jordan from 1946), and Yemen. There was a continual increase in membership during the second half of the 20th century, with additional 15 Arab states.
Four countries are observer states a status that entitles them to express their opinion and give advice but denies them voting rights. These are Eritrea, where Arabic is one of the official languages, as well as Brazil and Venezuela, which have large and influential Arab communities. India is another observer to the Arab League.
Four countries are observer states a status that entitles them to express their opinion and give advice but denies them voting rights. These are Eritrea, where Arabic is one of the official languages, as well as Brazil and Venezuela, which have large and influential Arab communities. India is another observer to the Arab League.
Summits
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1. Cairo: 13–17 January 1964.
2. Alexandria: 5–11 September 1964. 3. Casablanca: 13–17 September 1965. 4. Khartoum: 29 August 1967. 5. Rabat: 21–23 December 1969. 6. Algiers: 26–28 November.1973. 7. Rabat: 29 October 1974. 8. Cairo: 25–26 October 1976. 9. Baghdad: 2–5 November.1978. 10. Tunis: 20–22 November 1979. 11. Amman: 21–22 November 1980. 12. Fes: 6–9 September 1982. occurred in two stages:
14. Amman: 1987 15. Algiers: June 1988 16. Casablanca: 1989. 17. Baghdad: 1990 18. Cairo: 1996 19. Amman: 27–28 March 2001. 20. Beirut: 27–28 March 2002. 21. Sharm el-Sheikh: 1 March 2003. 22. Tunis: 22–23 May 2004. 23. Algiers: 22–23 March 2005. 24. Khartoum: 28–30 March 2006. 25. Riyadh: 27–28 March 2007. 26. Damascus: 29–30 March 2008. |
27. Doha: 28–30 March 2009.
28. Sirte: 27–28 March 2010. 29. Baghdad: 27–29 March 2012 30. Doha: 21–27 March 2013. 31. Kuwait City: 25–26 March 2014 32. Sharm El Sheikh: 28–29 March 2015 Two summits are not added to the system of Arab League summits: Anshas, Egypt: 28–29 May 1946 Beirut, Lebanon: 13 – 15 November 1958 Emergency summit
1. Cairo (First emergency summit): 21–27 September 1970
2. Riyadh (2nd emergency summit): 17–28 October 1976. 3. Casablanca (3rd emergency summit): 7–9 September 1985 4. Amman (4th emergency summit): 8–12 November 1987. 5. Algiers (5th emergency summit): 7–9 June 1988. 6. Casablanca (6th emergency summit): 23–26 June 1989. 7. Baghdad (7th emergency summit): 28–30 March 1990. 8. Cairo (8th emergency summit): 9–10 August 1990 9. Cairo (9th emergency summit): 22–23 June 1996. 10. Cairo (10th emergency summit): 21–22 October 2000. |
Secretaries-General of League
- Nabil el-Araby, 1 July 2011 to now
- Amre M. Moussa, 2001 - 2011
- Dr. Ahmed Essmat Abd El Mageed, 1991 - 2001
- Al Shazly Al Qleeby, 1979 - 1990
- Mahmoud Riad, 1972 - 1979
- Mohammed Abd El Khaleq Hassouna, 1952 - 1972
- Abd El Rahman Azzam, 1945 - 1952
