GCC at Crossroads: Challenges Amidst Unrest in the Arab World

Prasanta Kumar Pradhan

Dr Prasanta Kumar Pradhan is a Research Fellow and Coordinator of the West Asia Centre at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. He holds… Continue reading GCC at Crossroads: Challenges Amidst Unrest in the Arab World read more

The Arab unrest had a severe impact on the GCC, as it uncovered the existing internal fissures and limitations of the organization. Despite their success in integrating themselves on vital economic, security and political issues, divergent policies adopted by the individual member states on a number of regional issues in the aftermath of the Arab unrest was the main reason for the widening cracks within the organization. Failure to establish consensus and often contrarian positions adopted by the members over sensitive regional issues amid the regional turbulence have raised questions over the unity and relevance of the organization.