Topic 1: The Political, Economic, and Social Ramifications of the Arab Spring for the Arab League
Topic 2: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
The Arab League is a confederation of Arab nations from North Africa and the Middle East. The Arab League has a total of twenty-two active members and four observing states. The Arab League was founded in March of 1945 with the goal of “draw[ing] closer the relations between member States and coordinat[ing] collaboration between them, safeguard[ing] their independence and sovereignty, and consider[ing] in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries.” In addition to providing a united front for the Arab world, the Arab League seeks to advance the social, economic, and cultural interests of member states through the Council of Arab Economic Unity and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. Members of the Arab League vote on resolutions in the League Council, although decisions by that particular body are only binding for signatories that support a given resolution. The headquarters of the Arab League is located in downtown Cairo, which placed the organization in the midst of the Arab Spring. There are more than a third of a billion individuals living in Arab League nations, although slow economic development continues to be a challenge for most states in the organization. The Arab League has also been vocal in its support for Palestine, protesting the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and advocating for a Pro-Palestinian peace settlement designed by Saudi Arabia. More broadly, the conflict between modernizing forces and traditional values is one of the key issues facing the nations of the Arab League. Especially in light of the recent and ongoing conflicts in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, the Arab League must take a leadership role in guiding the Middle East towards a new future.
The Arab League at HMCA
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At Harvard Model Congress Asia, the Arab League will operate in a manner similar to many of our international organizations, with each delegate assuming the role of an ambassador from a member state. While participating in HMCA’s Arab League, delegates will be expected to advocate from the perspective of their country, keeping in mind the specific interests and needs of whichever state they represent. Delegates assigned to the Arab League can expect to face issues similar to those facing the real Arab League, including questions of regional stability, international relations, economic development, and human rights. Delegates should have a working knowledge of their member state and the politics of the Arab League in order to understand and effectively address the complex issues confronting the Middle East. HMCA’s Arab League will coordinate with other organizations in the simulation, especially the African Union, the G15, the WTO, and the WHO by providing testimony when necessary and by requesting information whenever needed. Ultimately, the Arab League at HMCA will debate a series of resolutions created in response to the briefing topics prepared by the committee chairs and molded by the discussion of the delegates.
