Arab League
The Arab League, formally known as the League of Arab States, is a regional organization founded in March 1945 with seven founding members: Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan, and Yemen. Today it comprises 22 member states across North Africa and the Middle East, headquartered in Cairo. According to its charter, the founding members agreed to seek “close cooperation” on matters of economics, communication, culture, nationality, social welfare, and health. The League’s goals are to strengthen relations between member states, coordinate collaboration, and safeguard their independence and sovereignty. Each member has one vote in the Council, with decisions binding only for states that voted for them. Despite ambitious goals, the League has been criticized for disunity and poor governance, with critics describing it as a “glorified debating society.” The organization has no mechanism to compel members’ compliance with resolutions.
