The Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) is not just and organization for security, but it is an organization for cooperation in all fields.

164 Pages·2.8 MB·en_US

by  Al-Quraini, Abdullah J.

NPS ARCHIVE
1997
AL-QURAINI, A.
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
THESIS
THE ARAB GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL
(AGCC) IS NOT JUST AN ORGANIZATION FOR
SECURITY, BUT IT IS AN ORGANIZATION
FOR COOPERATION IN ALL FIELDS
by
Abdullah J. Al-Quraini
June 1997
Thesis Co- Advisors: Kamil T. Said
Thesis Ralph H. Magnus
A42235
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1. AGENCY USEONLY (Leaveblank) 2. REPORTDATE 3. REPORT TYPEAND DATES COVERED
June 1997 Master's Thesis
4. TITLEAND SUBTITLE THE ARABGULFCOOPERATION COUNCIL FUNDINGNUMBERS
(AGCC) IS NOTJUST AN ORGANIZATION FORSECURITY, BUT IT
IS AN ORGANIZATION FORCOOPERATION INALLFIELDS
6. AUTHOR(S) Al-Quraini, Abdullah J.
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONNAME(S)ANDADDRESS(ES) PERFORMING
Naval Postgraduate School ORGANIZATION
Monterey CA 93943-5000 REPORTNUMBER
SPONSORING/MONITORINGAGENCYNAME(S)ANDADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING
AGENCYREPORTNUMBER
11. SUPPLEMENTARYNOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those ofthe author and do not reflect the
official policy orposition ofthe Department ofDefense orthe U.S. Government.
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
13. ABSTRACT(maximum200words)
Thisthesis examinesthemain purpose forestablishingtheAGCC, andproves that itwasnotcreatedjustas a
defensive alliance as itis generallyperceived inthe West. TheAGCC was formedforcooperation and in all fields among
its Member States. To demonstratethis fact,thisthesis discussesthehistorical eventsthat ledtothe establishmentofthis
organization and analyzesthe cooperation ofthememberstates in areaofpolitics, security, economy, as well asthe
development ofhumanresources.
The analysis indicatesthatthe formation ofthe ShuraCouncil (ConsultativeNational Councils)wasthe firststep in
the rightdirection inbuildingsuitablepolitical institutions. They allowthe citizensofthe AGCCtoparticipate inthe
decision makingprocess. Also, thethesis examinesthe external andthe internalthreatstothe region andthe AGCC
relationswiththe West. Itfindsthatthe AGCC Statesmustenhancethe existing(Gulf) Island Shield Force andmaintain
its alliance withthe West.
The Study examinesthe economies oftheAGCC States and showsthatthe AGCC States are still largely oil-based
economies. Itsuggests additional andaggressive economic diversificationprograms which are needed and essentialto
basethe economies on sustainable resources. The AGCC State mustmaximize an use oil returnsto diversifytheir
economies away from oil. Additionally, thethesisdiscussesthe human resources developmentand emphasizes the
investment inhuman capitalwhich shouldbethe objective andthepriorityoftheAGCC States. Also, the thesis suggests
thatthe educational system ofthe AGCC Statesneedsradicalreformstomeetthe demands ofmodern economy. Finally,
the thesis provides generalrecommendationsto strengthen andmovetheAGCC forward inthe future.
14. SUBJECTTERMS Shura Councils, AGCC Security, Economic Unified Agreement, 15. NUMBEROF
Human Resources Development PAGES 160
16. PRICECODE
17. SECURITY CLASSIFI- SECURITYCLASSIFI- 19. SECURITYCLACATION 20. LIMITATION OF
CATIONOFREPORT CATION OFTHISPAGE OFABSTRACT ABSTRACT
UL
Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
NSN 7540-01-280-5500 StandardForm298 (Rev. 2-89)
PrescribedbyANSIStd.239-18298-102
11
THE ARAB GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (AGCC) IS NOT JUST AN
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY, BUT IT IS AN ORGANIZATION
FOR COOPERATION IN ALL FIELDS
Abdullah J. Al-Quraini
Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Army ofOman
Graduate ofRoyal Military Academy (Sandhurst) U.K., 1984
Submitted in partial fulfillment
ofthe requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE
PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
from the
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
June 1997
WW
4
ABSTRACT
This thesis examines the main purpose for establishing the AGCC, and proves
that it was not createdjust as a defensive alliance as it is generally perceived in the
West. The AGCC was formed for cooperation in all fields among its Member States.
To demonstrate this fact, this thesis discusses the historical events that led to the
establishment ofthis organization and analyzes the cooperation ofthe member states
in area ofpolitics, security, economy, as well as the development ofhuman resources.
The analysis indicates that the formation of the Shura Council (Consultative
National Councils) was the first step in the right direction in building suitable political
institutions. They allow the citizens of the AGCC to participate in the decision
making process. Also, the thesis examines the external and the internal threats to the
AGCC AGCC
region and the relations with the West. It finds that the States must
enhance the existing (Gulf) Island Shield Force and maintain its alliance with the
West.
The Study examines the economies of the AGCC States and shows that the
AGCC
States are still largely oil-based economies. It suggests additional and
aggressive economic diversificationprograms which are needed and essential to base
AGCC
the economies on sustainable resources. The State must maximize an use oil
returns to diversify their economies away from oil. Additionally, the thesis discusses
the human resources development and emphasizes the investment in human capital
AGCC
which should be the objective and the priority ofthe States. Also, the thesis
AGCC
suggests that the educational system of the States needs radical reforms to
meet the demands of modern economy. Finally, the thesis provides general
recommendations to strengthen and move the AGCC forward in the future.
VI
&^f^ADUAT£SCH0O
WW3-5N
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. 1
WHY WAS THE AGCC CREATED?
A. 2
THE CHARTER OF THE AGCC
B. 8
C. THE OBJECTIVES 10
II. THE POLITICAL SYSTEM 15
A. OVER VIEW OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM 15
THE SHURA COUNCILS
B. 19
1. Saudi Arabia 23
2. Bahrain 23
3. Kuwait 24
4. Qatar 25
5. United Arab Emirates 26
Oman 27
6.
C. THE ROLE OF THE SHURA COUNCILS 31
SECURITY 35
III.
A. The IRAN-IRAQ WAR, 1980-88 37
B. THE GULF WAR, 1990-1991 38
C. EXTERNAL THREATS 41
vn
.
1. The Arab- Israeli Conflict 41
2. The Iranian Threat 42
3. The Iraqi Threat 48
D. INTERNAL THREAT 50
1. Territorial Disputes 50
2. Qatar-Bahrain Territorial Dispute 51
3. Other Internal Threats 53
E. THE WEST AND THE AGCC STATES 55
F. REGIONAL SECURITY ALLIANCES 57
1. The Damascus Declaration 59
2. The Omani Proposal 59
ECONOMY
IV. 67
A. THE UNIFIED ECONOMIC AGREEMENT (UEA) 67
ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
B. 71
1. Adopting Common Regional Strategies and Policies 71
2. Building Institutions and Harmonizing Regulations 72
AGCC
3 Creating a Economic Citizenship 73
4. Creating Regional Infrastructures 73
5. Developing Joint Venture Projects 74
6. Coordinating External Policies 75
7. Coordinating Oil Policies 76
vni