The Gulf Cooperation Council: a regional approach to peace, security and development

Abstract

The 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran prompted the Gulf conservative Arab states to undertake a series of measures to safeguard their regimes, as well as peace and security in the region. The Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and the setting up of the Regional Defence Force by the United States raised the spectre of outside interference in Gulf affairs. The fall of the Shah had clearly undermined the credibility of the United States as a reliable security partner. Given the populist and Islamic content of the revolution in Iran, its anti-monarchic and anti-United States stance, these states sought an alternative course to safeguard their security. The Gulf War further aggravated their sense of nervousness, and soon they took steps to avoid becoming involved in the conflict. This was basically due to their distrust of the Iraqi Baathist regime as well as their desire not to antagonise Iran. With Iran and Iraq at war, Saudi Arabia consolidated its position and emerged as the leader of the Gulf Arab states. Against this backdrop, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established in May 1981 as a regional organisation to overcome the security problems by pooling resources and lessening dependence on outside support. The preamble of the GCC is based on shared values, similarity of political systems, religious affinity and a common destiny that binds the Arab states of the Gulf. The purposes of the organisation include: (1) achievement of coordination and cooperation among the members; (2) promotion of cooperation among the people of member states; (3) harmonisation of procedures and practices in the fields of finance, economics, commerce, education, culture, legislation and public administration; (4) promotion of scientific and technological development of members; (5) development of a common defence strategy; and (6) collection and sharing of intelligence information regarding subversive and opposition groups.