The annual heads-of-state summit of the Arab League begins in Amman, Jordan, today. This year’s conference comes as the region faces a series of pressing challenges, including the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. The question of Palestine, the Israeli colonies and violations of Jerusalem, loom large. Key issues like rising unemployment, right to education for millions of children, environment and security will top the agenda of the meeting. While all these pressing matters require an urgent hearing and an early solution, the larger question that merits an answer is the relevance of the League itself.
Why is it that more than seven decades on, the biggest grouping of the Arab world has lost its appeal? Why has the Arab League been unsuccessful in achieving its objectives? There is no denying the fact that the League undertook steps at an institutional and legal level, but over time has clearly failed to achieve Arab integration or enhanced cooperation among the member states. It is a shame that more than 12 million Arab children are being denied access to education, in part because of conflicts in the region, but also due to a failure of the Arab political system to solve these crises. Today youth unemployment is one of the region’s biggest challenges. Natural resources of the Arab world lie underutilised. No wonder the trust of citizens in the Arab bloc has eroded.
Rather than being knotted in ideologies of the past, the League must look ahead and adapt itself to the 21st century. It is obliged to invest in its youth and their collective future. With greater cooperation and coordination, and stronger and more reliable ties, the Arab world will be able to capitalise on the great diversity of the region and participate in shaping a future that is full of possibilities. Arab League must look at the Gulf Cooperation Council — as an example — towards renewal of integration based on shared benefits and common interests.
Formed in 1981, the relatively younger Gulf grouping has ushered in an era of economic, political and social reform. It has enhanced economic integration and political harmony — key achievements that the Arab League must emulate.
Fairness, justice and cooperation should be the operative words. Divisive agendas that isolate the Arab world must go. Fixation with the past political wrangles has to be jettisoned. The League must resolve the long-running conflicts in the region rather than leave it to other powers. The Arab world needs to speak in one voice to establish a meaningful dialogue with the rest of the world.
