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Guide of
ARAB LEAGUE
 Hanoi MUN 2019, Arab League 
Background Guide 

TABLE OF CONTENT 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENT Page 1 

CHAIR INTRODUCTIONS Page 2

 
A. Chair ​Bui Minh Hien   
B. ​Chair Nguyen Ha Linh  
C. Chair​ Ngan Phan  
 
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION Page 4
 

GUIDE TO TOPIC A: ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND 

TERRORISM Page 5
 
A. Topic Introduction  
B. Topic Background & History of the Problem  
C. Current Situation  
D. Past International Actions  
E. Possible Solutions  
F. Questions to Consider  

GUIDE TO TOPIC B: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OIL 

INDUSTRY Page 15
 
A. Topic Introduction  
B. Background & History of the Problem  
C. Current Situation  
D. Past International Action  
F. Possible Solutions  
G. Questions to Consider 
 
BIBLIOGRAPHY Page 24   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Page 1 
 Hanoi MUN 2019, Arab League 
Background Guide 

CHAIR INTRODUCTION 
 
 
A. Chair Bui Minh Hien  
 
Greetings! My name is Bui Minh Hien, and I am utterly honored to be serving as your chair for 
Arab League of HMUN 2019. I am proudly a local from Hanoi, Vietnam, and currently majoring in 
English at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School. 
 
MUN has been an integral part of my life and has played a huge role in shaping my personality and 
knowledge. Thus, I wish all of my delegates at Arab League this year to experience the same enriching and 
memorable experience that Model UN has brought me, and be able to grow and learn from it. 
 
Over the course of the next three days, you will get the chance to participate in meaningful debate, 
express your ideas and opinions, and draft comprehensive resolutions to address the committee’s chosen 
problems. My best advice for you is to do your research well, stick to your country’s stance, be confident 
and have fun! Besides being a place for refining your knowledge and other qualities, Model UN is also a 
place for you to truly enjoy yourself and even form long-lasting friendship. 
 
This study guide will serve as your guidelines for understanding the topics, so please be sure to read 
it comprehensively and conduct research from external sources as well. Should you require any help, feel 
free to contact me or my co-chair, we are more than willing to aid you with all matters of inquiry. I 
sincerely wish you the best of luck and hope to see you on the upcoming conference day!  
 
 
B. Chair Nguyen Ha Linh 
 
Greetings, delegates! 
   
I am Ha-Linh Nguyen - a tenth-grader at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted. It is my 
honor to be assigned the Arab League chairing position along with two other outstanding chairs at HMUN 
2019. 
 
My MUN journey started unexpectedly merely with my curiosity and interest in international affairs 
but without me realizing that it can define my future path. MUN has opened doors to new knowledge, new 
relationships, and even new version of mine. 
 
One of the most precious aspect MUN has granted me is the opportunity to hope - hope to change 
the world in a positive way, hope to represent my own country at UN headquarter, hope to find solutions 
to lasting issues. Throughout the conference and your MUN journeys, I anticipate that every delegate can 
conduct your own “hope” and work tirelessly to achieve it. 
 

Page 2 
 Hanoi MUN 2019, Arab League 
Background Guide 

I am looking forward to sharing with delegates our MUN journeys! See you soon. 
 
C. Chair Ngan Phan 
 
Hello delegates,  
 
  Welcome to the Arab League at HMUN 2019. My name is Ngan Phan, I am honored to be serving as 
your  Chair along with Linh and Hien. Entering my fourth consecutive years doing Model UN, ever since, it 
has  been  a  part  of  my  high school journey. From the first MUN conference, I was thrilled by the extensive 
debate,  the  connections  and  friendship  that  formed  between  fellow  delegates.  I  truly  believe  that  Model 
UN  embarked  each  individual  delegate  to  knowledge  of international relations and foreign affairs that they 
will not be able to experience in any school-related courses.  
 
  I think that’s enough from my side. Keep up the  research, fellow delegates. We are looking forward to 
meeting you in the beginning of July!  
 
 
   

Page 3 
 Hanoi MUN 2019, Arab League 
Background Guide 

COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION 
 
 
The  preliminary  association  of  Arab  League  was  formed  on  March  22,  1945,  under  the  Alexandria 
Protocol,  to develop the economy, resolving disputes and political aims. Formally recognized as the League 
of  Arab States, the League initially held six member-state participations from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, 
Syria,  and  Saudi  Arabia.  Currently,  the  Arab  League  is  a  regional  political  organization  with  22  members 
which  tries  to  help  economically  integrate its members without the intermeddle from foreign organizations 
and  countries.  Each  member-state  is  allowed  to  express  opinions  and  is  given  one  vote  in  the  League 
Council.  Five  observances  are  denied  to  vote  in  the  final  decision.  The  governance  of  the  Arab  League  is 
based  on  the  institution  of  supranational  duality  while  respecting  the  country’s  sovereignty.  On  April  13, 
1950,  the  Arab  League  published  the  Joint  Defence  and  Economic  Cooperation  agreement.  In  March 
2015,  the  League  Secretary-General  announced  the  establishment  of  Joint  Arab  Force  (JAF)  in  order  of 
counteracting violent extremism and other external threats to the member countries.  
 
 
 

   

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Background Guide 

GUIDE TO TOPIC A: ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND 

TERRORISM 
 
 
I. Introduction:  
In  recent  years,  the  world  has  witnessed  the lives of million innocent people being taken away by incidents 
of  violent  extremism  and  terrorism.  The  Arab  region  is  perhaps  most  affected  by  violent  extremism  and 
terrorism  across  the  globe.  Experts  suggest  that  preventions  of  violent  extremism  and  terrorism  should 
look  beyond  strict  security  concerns  to  development-related  foundation  and  solutions  to  the  situation. To 
achieve  regional  stability  and  security,  it  is  essential  for  the  Arab  League  to  work  together  towards  the 
prevention of violent extremism and terrorism. 
  
II. Topic Background and History: 

1. Definition of key terms:  

As  of  present,  violent  extremism  and  terrorism  remain  one  of  the  most  pressing  global  issues,  even  more 
so  for  member  states  of  the  Arab  League.  However,  the  terms  “violent  extremism”  and  “terrorism”  have 
yet  to  be  clearly  defined  and  distinguished  from  each  other.  In  fact,  these  two  phrases  are  often  used 
1
interchangeably.   However,  it  is  crucial  to  point  out  the  key  differences  between  “violent  extremism”  and 
“terrorism” in order to better understand and tackle the issue.  

Terrorism,  according  to  the  simplest  definition,  is  systematic  violence  conducted  against  the  state,  instead 
of  by  it.  ​Interlocutory  Decision​,  composed  in  2011,  defined  international  terrorism  as  consisting  of  three  key 
aspects:  

i. The  perpetuation  of  a  criminal  act  (eg.  murder,  kidnapping,  arson,  etc)  or  the  threatening  of 
such an act 
ii. The  intent  to  spread  fear  among  the  population  or  the  direct/indirect  coercion  of  relevant 
authority into taking action/refrain from taking action 
iii. The involvement of a transnational element 

The greatest difference between violent extremism and terrorism is that of scope. While terrorism is limited 
to  actions  that  are  criminalized,  violent  extremism  may  extend  to  other  conduct  that  remains  within  the 
boundaries  of  legislation.  For  example,  the  promotion  of  hate  messages,  violence  and  intolerance  is 
classified as an act of violent extremism.  

2. History: 

The  history of terrorism, specifically the history of terrorism in the Middle East can be traced back to as far 
as the early 20​th​ century.  

1
​Kiener-Manu, Katharina. “Counter-Terrorism Module 2 Key Issues: Radicalization & Violent
Extremism.” ​Counter-Terrorism Module 2 Key Issues: Radicalization & Violent Extremism,​
www.unodc.org/e4j/en/terrorism/module-2/key-issues/radicalization-violent-extremism.html.

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 Hanoi MUN 2019, Arab League 
Background Guide 

One  of  the  earliest  milestones  of  modern  terrorism  in  the  Middle  East  is  the  Jewish  Insurgency  in 
Mandatory  Palestine. After World War I, following concession from the Ottoman Empire of the League of 
Nations’  Mandate  for  Palestine  in  1922,  Britain  authority  gained  control  of  Palestine  and  Transjordan 
2
Territories.   In  1939,  the  White  Paper  was  published,  greatly  intensifying  relations  between  Mandatory 
British  authority  in  Palestine  and  Palestinian  civilians,  especially  Jews.  The  document  listed  numerous 
government  restrictions,  specifically  on  Jewish  immigration  and  possession  of  land.  Initially,  the  revolt 
began  with  3  paramilitary  organizations  –  Irgun, Lehi, and Haganah – acting independently and sometimes 
even  conflicting  with  each  other  at  first.  After  1945,  however,  these  organizations  began  to  cooperate, 
3
starting  the  “Jewish  Resistance  Movement”.    ​Numerous  attacks  were  conducted  against  British  forces  in 
Palestine, with the most fatal being the King David Hotel bombing, in which 91 civilians were killed and 46 
injured.  By  the  end  of  the  insurgency  campaign,  casualties  were  estimated  to  be  roughly  500  of  all  British 
4
soldiers and Palestinian militants and civilians.  

Also worth noting in the history of terrorism in the Arab League region is the presence of Hezbollah (Party 
of  God).  Founded  in 1982 by a group of Lebanese Shiite clerics following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, the 
organization  has  continuously  presented  itself  as  a  threat  not  only  to the Middle East but the international 
5
community  as  well.   From  1983  to  1996,  the  group’s  most  active  period,  dozens  of  bombings  and suicide 
missions  with  combined  casualties  of  nearly  500  were  conducted  on  Middle  Easterners  and  Westerners 
alike.  In  fact,  it  is  estimated  that  Hezbollah  is  the  terrorist  group  which  murdered  the  most  Americans 
before  the  9/11  attack  in  2011.  In  recent  years,  Hezbollah  has  supported  the  Assad  regime  in  Syria  by 
6
providing thousands of soldiers and other types of military equipment.  

However, the event that truly drew the entire world’s attention to the potential threat of terrorism and 
violent extremism came in 2001, when the infamous terrorist group al-Qaeda conducted the devastating 
9/11 attack on the United States. Four United States’ commercial aircrafts were hijacked by the group and 
consecutively crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center (New York City), the Pentagon 
(Washington D.C), and rural Pennsylvania. Nearly 3000 casualties were recorded, and over 6000 were 
7
injured during the attacks. The incident marked the first time that the issue of terrorism was brought to 

2
“The Mandate for Palestine.” ​Mfa.gov.il​, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 24 July 1922,
mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/the%20mandate%20for%20palestine.aspx. 
3
​French, D. ​The British Way in Counter-Insurgency, 1945–1967​. Oxford University Press, 2011: p48.

4
Benjamin Grobb-Fitzgibbon. “Imperial Endgame: Britain’s Dirty Wars and the End of Empire”, p.100.

5
“Hezbollah 101: Who Is the Militant Group, and What Does It Want?” ​The Christian Science Monitor,​ The Christian
Science Monitor, 19 July 2012,
www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2012/0719/Hezbollah-101-Who-is-the-militant-group-and-what-does-it-want/Wha
t-are-the-origins-of-Hezbollah.
6
“Middle East.” ​The Heritage Foundation​,
www.heritage.org/military-strength/assessing-threats-us-vital-interests/middle-east.
7
Plumer, Brad. “Nine Facts about Terrorism in the United States since 9/11.” ​The Washington Post​, WP Company, 11 Sept.
2013,
www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/09/11/nine-facts-about-terrorism-in-the-united-states-since-911/?utm_term
=.dcb9330cf3b3.

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8
global attention with U.S President George W. Bush declaring the herald of a “War on Terror”. Numerous 
security measures were implemented in the United States and other nations. It is also speculated that it was 
9
the 9/11 attacks that led the United States to begin its prolonged conflict with Afghanistan and Iraq. In 
the following years, numerous attacks – mostly concentrated in Arabic countries such as Pakistan, Saudi 
10
Arabia, and Yemen – were linked to al-Qaeda. The terrorist network was severely damaged in 2011 when 
U.S forces managed to kill their key leaders (including Osama Bin Laden) in Pakistan. However, the 
organization has inspired many other terrorist groups to spring up in its place, as well as continued to 
develop though in a more decentralized manner. 

In  2006,  a  new  terrorist  threat  emerged  under  the  name  of  ISI  –  Islamic  State  of  Iraq  (also  commonly 
known  as IS and ISIS). The group initially originated as a sub-group of al-Qaeda named “al-Qaeda in Iraq”, 
led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The goal of the organization was to reduce U.S and Western influence in the 
Iraq-Syria  region  and replace the current system with a Sunni Islamist regime. Since its inception, the group 
has  gained  control  of  several  regions  in  Iraq  and  Syria,  notably  Falluja,  Mosul  and  Tikrit.  Sharia  law  –  an 
extreme  religious  code  with  roots  in traditional Islam -  was imposed on all regions under ISIS authority. It 
has  since  gained  worldwide  notoriety  through  vile  and  inhumane  acts  within  and  beyond  Arabic  regions, 
including  but  not  limited  to  the  attack  on  the  Yazidi  minority  group,  the  beheading  of  2  U.S journalists, a 
Jordanian  militant  and  21  Egyptian  Christians.  Graphic  videos  of torture and other violent conducts were 
recorded  and  posted  online.  Beyond  Middle  Eastern  grounds,  ISIS  has  claimed  responsibility  for  various 
fatal  attacks,  particularly  the  2015  Paris  attacks,  2016  Brussels  Bombings,  2016  Pulse  Nightclub  Shooting, 
11
and 2017 Manchester attack, to name a few.  

3. Causes:  
12
a. Instability : 

Many  researchers  believe  that  there  is  a  positive  association  between  the  level  of  instability  within  a  state 
and  the  rate  of  terrorism  that  it  experiences.  However,  it  is  also  put  forward  that  low  levels  of  instability 
have  little  effect  on  the  growth  of  terrorism,  and  only  high  levels  can  actually  alter  the  course  of  its 
13 14
development. Instability can be broadly categorized into three types :  

8
Brosnan, Matt. “What Were the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks?” ​Imperial War Museums​, 12 June 2018,
www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-were-the-911-terrorist-attacks.
9
Bergen, Peter L. “September 11 Attacks.” ​Encyclopædia Britannica​, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 15 Nov. 2018,
www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks.

“Timeline: History of Al-Qaeda.” ​The Guardian​, Guardian News and Media,

10

www.theguardian.com/alqaida/page/0,12643,852377,00.html.
11
“ISIS.” ​History.com,​ A&E Television Networks, 10 July 2017, www.history.com/topics/21st-century/isis.
12
Fleischman, Jason. “The Root Causes of Terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa: Contradictions and Trends”, ​The
Honors College of Middle Tennessee State University, 2​ 018.

13
Coggins, B. L. “Does State Failure Cause Terrorism? An Empirical Analysis ”. ​Journal of Conflict Resolution,​ 2015,
p.455-483.

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-   Crisis  of  authority:  the  inability  of  the  government  to  enforce  law  due  to  weakness  or  lack  of 
control 
- Crisis  of  resilience:  the  inability  of  the  government  to  fulfill  its  responsibilities  to  citizens  without 
the ability for improvement 
- Crisis  of  legitimacy:  society’s  view  that  the  current  government  ruling  is  unjust  due  to  corruption, 
etc. 

It  is  believed  that  some  types  of  instability  have  a  higher  chance  of  resulting  in  terrorism than others. For 
example,  anarchy  and  high  levels  of  violence  (often  associated  with  the  crisis  of  authority)  bear a stronger 
connection to terrorism than low levels of state capacity (crisis of resilience). 

Political  conflicts  resulting  in  instability  in  a  multitude  of  state  has  also  been  linked  to  high  levels  of 
terrorism.  In  such  cases,  however,  terrorizing  acts  can  be  conducted  by  one  state upon another. There are 
also cases of nations funding terrorist organizations to launch attacks on the opposing side/country.  

Many  member  states  of  the  Arab  League  currently  suffer  from at least one of the aforementioned types of 
instability. 

b. Religious conflicts and extremism:  

Religious  terrorism  and  religious  extremism  remain  one  of  the  most  commonly  observed  forms  of 
terrorism  in  the  Middle  East.  The  segregation  between  different  types  of  Islam  as  well  as  the  distorted 
version of the religion has largely contributed to the rise of various terrorist organizations.  

It  is  suggested  that  religious  terrorism  is  much  more  dangerous  than  other  forms  of  terrorism  as 
perpetrators  of religious terrorism see themselves as justified in their battle to worship their Gods, and thus 
are  more  likely  to  carry  out  more  extreme  acts  of  terrorism  and  not  accept  any  kinds  of  negotiations  or 
pacification  from  their  fellow  mortals.  In  fact,  the  majority  of  suicide  attacks  in  the  past  few  years  were 
15
committed by individuals or groups under the influence of religious ideology.  

‘Hybrid’  terrorist  organizations,  or  organizations  that  combine  additional  elements  to  religious  principles, 
have  also  been  recorded  throughout  history.  For  example,  the  Syrian  Army  of  Islam  is  known  to  exhibit 
nationalistic  factors  in  addition  to  religious,  while  the KKK is famous for its racist ideologies. Such groups 
16
make it much more difficult for policymakers to accurately determine their operation pattern.  

c. Socio-economic factors:  

Shortcomings  in  the  socio-economic  background  (eg.  economic  stability,  education,  etc.)  can  also  lead  to 
terrorism.  Statistics  have  shown  that  underrepresented  groups  are  more  likely  to be recruited into terrorist 
organizations  due  to  lack  of  prospects  for  a  better  life,  absence  of  education,  distrust  in  government,  etc. 

14
Margolis, J. E. “Estimating State Instability”. ​Studies in Intelligence​ , 2012, p.13-24

15
Hoffman, Bruce. “Inside Terrorism.” ​Columbia University Press, ​1988.

Alon Burstein. “How Religious Extremism Changed the Face of Terrorism.” ​Institute for Global Change​, Hebrew
16

University of Jerusalem, 9 Jan. 2017, institute.global/insight/co-existence/how-religious-extremism-changed-face-terrorism.

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One  notable  example  is  in  Nigeria,  where  the  majority  of  attacks  conducted  bear  socio-economic  factors, 
17
especially “endemic poverty and hopelessness”, as a driving force.  

4. Consequences:  

a. Physical and psychological impacts:  

The  most  easily  observed  consequence  of  terrorism  and  violent  extremism  is  the  loss  of  lives  associated. 
However,  also  worth  noting  is  the  immediate  and  long-term  physical  and  psychological  effects  that 
survivors suffer.  

The  physical  impacts  of  terrorism  are  widely  ranged  according  to  the  form  of  torture  or  terror  that  the 
victim  undergoes.  To  name  a  few  are  broken  bones,  soft  tissue  injuries,  lifetime  disabilities, 
sexually-transmitted infections (associated with rape), etc. 

Post-traumatic  Stress  Depression  (PTSD) is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder among victims 

18
of terrorism. They may also suffer from mental trauma, anxiety, self-loathe, difficulty in recollection, etc.    

b. Societal trauma:  

Wide-scale  or  frequent  terrorist  attacks  can harbor societal trauma—trauma that is collectively experienced 

by  a  large  group  of  people.  Mass  hysteria  can  also  be  inflicted,  as  well  as  a  sense  of  growing  fear  and 
distrust  within  the  entire  populace.  Such  effects  can  be  detrimental  to  the  wellbeing  of  individuals  and  in 
turn, the normal function of a society.  

c. Economic impacts:  

Successful  terrorist  attacks  can  immediately  result  in  astronomical  costs  associated  with  crisis  resolving, 
including  but  not  limited  to  repairmen/rebuilding  of  destroyed  facilities,  medical  aid  for  victims,  media 
control,  etc.  The  reaffirmed  need  of  civilians  to  equip  themselves  better  security  measures  may  also  incur 
significant  costs  for  both  the  state  and  individual.  More  long-term  effects  include  economic  downgrade 
caused  by  tightening  border  controls  and  decrease  in  productivity  caused  by  mass  hysteria  and  societal 
19
trauma.  

III. Current Situation: 

In  recent  years,  terrorism  rate  in  the  Middle  East  area  has  fallen  significantly.  Specifically,  between  2016 
and  2017,  the  number  of  terrorist  attacks  in  the  Middle East and North Africa combined dropped by over 

17
​Vanguard Newspaper. “Between Herskovits, Azazi and Jonathan — Vanguard
News.” ​http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/between-herskovits-azaziand- jonathan-2/

18
Katharina Kiener-Manu. “Counter-Terrorism Module 14 Key Issues: Effects of Terrorism.” ​Counter-Terrorism Module
14 Key Issues: Effects of Terrorism,​ www.unodc.org/e4j/en/terrorism/module-14/key-issues/effects-of-terrorism.html.
19
“OECD Economic Outlook 71”, The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2002, p.118.

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40 percent – from over 6110 in 2016 to 3780 in 2017. The fatality rate caused by terrorism also experienced 
20
a significant decrease of nearly 50%, according to the Global Terrorism Database.   

Figure 1: Attacks and fatalities in the Middle East and North Africa 

The  main  reason  behind  this  fall  is  the  decline  in  activity  of the terrorist organization ISIS, whose number 
21
of  attacks  grew  less  frequent  even  in  Iraq  and  Syria, its main operating base.  Much of the territories once 
claimed  by  ISIS  has  also  been  freed,  including  its  ‘capital’  Raqqa.  However,  ISIS  networks  and  affiliates 
remain  active  throughout  the  region,  specifically  in  Libya,  Saudi  Arabia,  the  Sinai  Peninsula  and  Yemen. 
Egypt  also  faces  the  threat  of  ISIS  branch  group,  ISIS  Sinai  Province,  and  suffered  from  the  deadliest 
attack in Egypt’s history in 2017 (the Al-Rawdah village attack).   

Romero, Luiz. “Attacks and Fatalities in the Middle East and North Africa.” ​Atlas​, Quartz, 8 Aug. 2018,
20

www.theatlas.com/charts/BJxfovOr7.

Romero, Luiz. “Terrorist Attacks by ISIL between 2013 and 2017.” ​Atlas,​ Quartz, 8 Aug. 2018,
21

www.theatlas.com/charts/H1S43PdBX.

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Figure 2: Terrorist attacks by ISI: between 2013 and 2017 

al-Qaeda  also  remained  active  in  multiple  areas,  mostly  focused  in  Yemen  and  Syria.  Its  Syrian  affiliate, 
al-Nusrah  Front  has  also  managed  to  collaborate  with  other  organizations  to  form  a  new  terrorist  group, 
Hayat  Tahrir  al-Sham.  This is mainly due to the ongoing political conflict between the Yemeni government 
and  the  Houthis,  which  has  contributed  to  the  maintenance  of  safe  havens  for  al-Qaeda  and  ISIS  in  the 
region.  

Jordan  and  Lebanon  have  made  significant  progress  in  combating  terrorism,  though  some  organizations 
still remain active, most notably the Hizballah in Lebanon.   

Terrorism  remained  a  major  problem  for  Palestine  and  Gaza,  with  examples  including  Hamas  (though 
opinions  on  the  organization  deviate  significantly  across  nations  and  it  remains  disputed  whether  it  is  a 
22
terrorist organization or not) and the Islamic Jihad.  

IV. Past International Action:  

23
The Arab Convention For the Suppression of Terrorism (1998)  

The  Arab  Convention  For  the  Suppression  of  Terrorism,  adopted  in  1998,  can  be  considered  the  first 
significant  step  taken  by  the  League  of  Arab  States  to  combat  terrorism.  The  Convention  covered  a 
multitude  of  aspects,  from  the  definition  of  terrorism  and  related-terms  to  measures  and  principles  for 
cooperation. 

“Chapter 1. Country Reports: Middle East and North Africa.” ​U.S. Department of State​, U.S. Department of State,
22

www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2017/282844.htm.
23
​ airo, April 1998.
​League of Arab States, ​The Arab Convention For the Suppression of Terrorism, C

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UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (2006)  

The  United  Nations  Global  Counter-Terrorism  Strategy  (UNGCTS)  was  adopted  by  consensus  on  8 
September  2006  and  represents  the  first  time  a  collective  approach  to  combating  terrorism  was  agreed 
upon by all states. The document is updated every 2 years, and is composed on the basis of 4 pillars:  

- Addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism 

- Measures to prevent and combat terrorism 
- Measures to build states’ capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and to strengthen the role of the 
United Nations in that regard 
- Measures  to  ensure  respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for 
the fight against terrorism. 

In  2015,  the  Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, a report from the Secretary-General, was added 

to  the  UNGCTS,  updating  it  with  the  realization  of  violent  extremism  as  a  threat  to  global  peace  and 
security as well as measures to combat it.  
25
The founding of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) (2017)  

On  15  June  2017,  an  official  specialized  UN  body  dedicated  to  counter-terrorism  was  founded  under 
resolution 71/291. Its main functions include:  

- Providing  leadership  on  the  General  Assembly  counter-terrorism  mandates  entrusted  to  the 
Secretary-General from across the United Nations system 
- Enhancing  coordination  and  coherence  across  the  38  Global  Counter-Terrorism  Coordination 
Compact  (former  CTITF)  Task  Force  entities  to  ensure  the  balanced  implementation  of  the  four 
pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy 
- Strengthening  the  delivery  of  United  Nations  counter-terrorism  capacity-building  assistance  to 
Member States 
- Improving  visibility,  advocacy  and  resource  mobilization  for  United  Nations  counter-terrorism 
effort 
- Ensuring  that  due  priority  is  given  to  counterterrorism  across  the  United  Nations  system  and that 
the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy. 
26
UNOCT Multi-Year Appeal (2019-2020)  

The  UNOCT  Multi-Year  Appeal  for  2019  and  2020  is  the  first  of  its  kind,  containing  information  on  60 
projects  of  different  scales (global, regional, national) covering all four pillars of the UNGCTS. The goal of 

24
“UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy | Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force.” United Nations, 8 Sept. 2006,
www.un.org/counterterrorism/ctitf/en/un-global-counter-terrorism-strategy.
25
“United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.” United Nations, 2017, www.un.org/en/counterterrorism/.
26
​ nited Nations,
United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism, ​UNOCT Multi-Year Appeal (2019-2020), U
https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/ctitf/sites/www.un.org.counterterrorism.ctitf/files/UNOCT_Multi-Year-Appeal_We
bsite.pdf​.

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the  Multi-Year  Appeal  is  to  regulate  funding  for  the  United  Nations’  efforts  to  combat  terrorism  by 
ensuring sustainability, transparency and efficiency. 

V. Possible Solutions/Case study:  

a) Security of potential targets  
Extends  security  measure  to  individuals  and  organization  that  are  potential  attack  targets.  In  the 
worst  case,  if  an  attack  happens,  the  government  should  be  prepared  with  guidelines  to  minimize 
the effect. 
b) Identify radicalization  
Encourages  citizens  to  report  to  the  police  and  local  authoritarian  if  they  recognize  anybody 
undergoes  radicalization  process,  has  close  relationship  with  extremist  and  and  terrorist  groups  as 
individuals always go through the radicalized process before converting to a terrorist.  
c) Terrorists’ punishment 
Considering  any  individual,  who  planned  an  attack,  completed  a  terrorist  training  programme, and 
carried  out  the  terrorist  attacks  as  criminal  offenses  under  national  law.  Punishment  must  not 
prohibited Human Rights Convention.  
d) Counter-terrorism measurement  
Establishing a counter-terrorism measurement including but not limited to:  
- Taken down websites contain hate speech and violent information,  
- Launch the Counter-terrorism Alert system,  
- Record  of  individuals and organization who took part in terrorist activities and establish the 
national terrorism list,  
- Supervise people who pose attack threats,  
e) International collaboration  
Improving  international  cooperation  and  information  sharing  system  regarding  the  objectives  of 
terrorism to achieve the goals of combating violent extremism and terrorism.  
 
VI. Questions to Consider:  
Delegates are expected to use these questions to further their research and apply to the debate sessions during the conference  
● What are the factors of violent extremism and terrorism?  
● What are the causes of violent extremism and terrorism?  
● What are the direct and indirect effects of violent extremism and terrorism?  
● To  what  extent  do  the  phenomena  of  violent  extremism  affect  the  stability,  security  and 
economic development of the Arab League member state?  
● How does regional collaboration extend the power in combating this issue?  
● What  are  the  national  government’s  and  the  League’s  responsibilities  to  protect  civilians 
from extremism and a terrorist attack?  
● How  can  the  Arab  League  leverage  capabilities  to  meet  the  demand  of  its  members  in 
combating the issue of violent extremism and terrorism?  
● To what extent does social media exacerbate extremism and terrorism? 
● How  can  the  community  adapt  to  the  new  challenges  that  originated  from  the  use  of  the 
Internet in resolving the issue of extremism and terrorism? 

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● What  are  the  applications  of  the  Internet  to  the  national  government  when  encountering 
this  issue?  Does  capitalize  “big  data”  help  governments to supervise extremist and terrorist 
group?  
● What should be the priority of the Arab League when it comes to resolving this issue?  
● How  can  the  Arab  League  prevent  young  people  from  joining  extremist  and  terrorist 
groups?  
● How  should  the  process  of  criminalizing  terrorist  attacks  work?  National  punishment  or 
international lawsuit?  
● How  can  the  Arab  League  prevent  a  potential  upsurge  of  violent  extremism  and  terrorism 
in the future?  
 
   

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GUIDE TO TOPIC B: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OIL INDUSTRY

 

 
I. Introduction 
The  Arab  economies,  specifically  economic  activities  (i.e.,  export  and  import)  and  fiscal  revenues  of  Arab 
League  member  states,  are  heavily  dependent  on  oil-extraction  In  2014,  77  percent  was  the  average 
government  income  across  the  nations  of  the  League  that  comes  from  oil  production.  This  statistic 
demonstrates  the  importance  of  sustainable  development  within  the  oil  industry.  The  pressing  challenge 
that  the  Arab  League  faces  is  to  manage  the  appropriate  balance  of  social,  economic  and  environmental 
capital.  To  achieve  the  goals  of  economic  growth  and  sustainable  development  in  the  oil  industry,  it  is 
crucial  to  the  government  to  conduct  the  operational  plans  properly and reduce the negative externality of 
production  on  the  environment. The Arab League is suggested to develop in the near future a vital strategy 
that  incorporates  national  governments,  local  institutes,  non-profit/non-governmental  organizations,  and 
firms to oblige the set goals.  
 
II. Topic Background and History 
Oil & Oil Industry 
Oil  is,  in  fact,  a  precious  natural  resource  and  commodity  in  the  Middle  East. The oil of concern here can 
be  discovered  under  layers  of  earth  and  originates  from  ancient  fossilized  organic  materials.27  It  is  also 
known  as  “petroleum”,  consisting  of  a  range  of  components  from  the lightest (natural gas) to the heaviest 
(crude oil).  
 

 
Figure 1: Petroleum and some of its components  
 

27
​“Petroleum Industry.” ​Wikipedia,​ Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_industry.

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Oil’s  prime  values  lie  in  its  versatile  and  powerful  source  of  energy  for  essential  means  of  transportation 
(trains,  boats,  cars,  etc),  machines,  etc.28  Additionally,  oil  after  being  processed  through  petrochemical 
plants, caters for various purposes including creating medicine, candles, plastics, etc. 
 

 
Figure 2: Petroleum products 
 
It  is  categorized  as  non-renewable  energy,  which  is  exhaustible  in  the  near  future  and  can  only  serve 
humans  within  the  next  53.3  years.29  All  of  the  aforementioned  features  turn  oil  into  one  of  the  most 
sought-after natural resources. 
 
In  fact,  the  oil  industry  (or  petroleum  industry)  has  always  played  a  major  role  in  the  global  market, 
producing  the  world’s  principal  source  of  energy  and  generating  approximately 1696.6 billion oil barrels in 
2017.  Specifically,  economies  within  the  Arab  League  are  particularly  dependent  on  the  oil  industry.  In 
several  member  states  of  the  Arab  League  including  Algeria,  Iraq,  Kuwait,  Libya,  Sudan,  Bahrain,...  fuel 
exports  in which the fundamental commodities are natural gas, oil, and oil products account for about 60% 
-  90%  of  total  merchandise  exports  while GDP shares of oil revenue constitute approximately 15% - 50%.
30
 
 

28
​An Introduction to the Petroleum Industry.​ pp. 1–106, ​An Introduction to the Petroleum Industry​,
www.nr.gov.nl.ca/nr/publications/energy/intro.pdf​.
29
​DiLallo, Matt. “The World Has 53.3 Years of Oil Left.” ​USA Today​, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 28 June
2014, ​www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/06/28/the-world-was-533-years-of-oil-left/11528999/​.

​Hutt, Rosamond. “Which Economies Are Most Heavily Reliant on Oil?” ​World Economic Forum​,
30

www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/05/which-economies-are-most-reliant-on-oil/​.

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Petroleum  industry  comprises  exploration,  extraction,  refining,  transportation,  marketing,  etc,  which  are 
separated into three main sectors31: 
● Upstream  sector  (also  referred  to  as  the  E&P or E​xploration and ​Production): The sector involves 
searching both potential onshore and offshore ​natural gas fields or crude oil fields and drilling these 
reserves with production rigs in order to elevate oil and gas to the surface. 
● Midstream  sector:  It  involves  a  procedure  of  gathering,  processing,  refining,  storing,  and 
transporting  the  oil  and  gas  products  of  the  upstream  sector  with  the  assistance  of  advanced 
technological equipment. The sector even expands towards the wholesale marketing of crude oil. 
● Downstream  sector:  It  is  most  closely  tied  with  the  average  consumerism  market.  Within  the 
sector,  crude  petroleum  is  refined,  and  natural  gas  is  processed  and  purified  to  produce  consumer 
products including jet fuel, daily supplies of natural gas, etc.32 
 
Sustainable Development  
In  the face of constant insecurity, sustainable development of the oil industry is needed to ensure the stable 
and  long-term  development  of  one  of  the  most  important  industries  in  the  world  and  particularly  in  the 
Arab  League.  Even  though  the  official  definition  of sustainability within oil industry has not been declared 
yet,  the  landmark  definition  of  sustainable  development  is one that meets the needs of the present without 
compromising  the  ability  of  future  generations  to  meet  their  own  needs.33  Environmental,  economic,  and 
social sustainability are essential parts of sustainable development: 
● Environmental  sustainability:  It  is  the  environment’s  ability  to  support  a  defined  level  of 
environmental quality and natural resource extraction rates indefinitely.   
● Economic  sustainability:  It  is  the  economy’s  ability  to  support  a  defined  level  of  economic 
production indefinitely.  
● Social  sustainability  is  the  social  system’s  ability  (a country, family, or organization) to function at a 
defined level of social well being and harmony indefinitely.34 
 
Therefore,  petroleum  industry  activities  must  acknowledge  and  integrate  all  three  forms  of  sustainability 
into  the process of decision-making throughout the journey to sustainable development. The main purpose 
is  to  preserve  oil  resources  for  future  posterity  and  prevent  complications  regarding  environmental,  social 
or economic issues.35 
 

31
​Gurumo, Tumaini, and Lixin Han. ​Petroleum and Sustainable Development: The Role of International Conventions.​ vol.
26, IACSIT Press, Singapore, 2011, pp. 1–5, ​Petroleum and Sustainable Development: The Role of International
Conventions.
32
​Royer, Blake. “Three Sectors of the Oil and Gas Industry | Dragon Products, LTD.” ​Dragon Products,​ 5 Dec. 2017,
dragonproductsltd.com/three-sectors-oil-gas-industry/.
33
​Gurumo, Tumaini, and Lixin Han. ​Petroleum and Sustainable Development: The Role of International Conventions.​ vol.
26, IACSIT Press, Singapore, 2011, pp. 1–5, ​Petroleum and Sustainable Development: The Role of International
Conventions.

34
​The Three Pillars of Sustainability​, ​www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/ThreePillarsOfSustainability.htm​.

35
​Sustainable Solutions for the Oil and Gas Industry​. pp. 1–9, ​Sustainable Solutions for the Oil and Gas Industry​.

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Figure 3: ​Scheme of sustainable development at the confluence of  
three constituent parts 
 
Key Issues 
Comprehensive  integration  of  three  main pillars of sustainability into Arab League members’ oil industry is 
demanding due to the following aspects: 
 
1. Over-reliance 
Arab  League  countries  are  categorized  as  either  “developing”  or  "underdeveloped"  and  acknowledge 
financial  profits  as  the  first  priority  on  their  agenda.  As  such,  they  focus  on  generating  the  most  income 
rather  than  try  to  balance  among  three sustainable elements. Also, the oil industry composes the economic 
fundament  of  Arab  League  members,  causing  them  to  be  susceptible  to  even  slight  fluctuations  in  the 
market.  Some  governments,  therefore,  may  refrain  from  striving  towards sustainable development for fear 
that  any  unexpected  changes  can  damage  the  economy  in  the  foreseeable  future,  which  leads  to  lack  of 
efforts at a municipal level. 
 
2. Economic and Financial Barriers 
Application  of  hi-tech  machines,  education  about  sustainable  development,  and  thorough  renewal  of 
outdated  systems  can  cost  millions  of  dollars,  which  is  unaffordable  for  developing  countries  and  Arab 
League  members  such  as  Yemen.  The  expenses  present  financial  obstacles and diminish the motivation to 
cultivate a sustainable industry.  
  
3. Technological Barriers  
Advancements  in  technology  within  the  oil  industry’s  sectors  have  enabled  safer  operations  for  workers, 
increased  the  capacity  of  the  oil  barrel,  and  elevated  energy  efficiency.  Despite  its  important  role  in 
achieving  sustainability,  technological  progress  and  research  have  not  received  enough  attention  to  be 
further  developed.  Also,  Arab  League  members  do  not possess sufficient personnel resources and motives 
to  utilize  innovative  approaches  and  often  apply  outdated,  low-efficiency  procedures  with  massive  carbon 
emissions. 
 

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4. Social Barriers 
Mindsets  and  attitudes  are  pivotal  in  converting  short-term  goals  into  long-term  developments,  directly 
affecting  individual  behaviors  and  decisions.  In  spite  of  efforts  to  establish  sustainable  developments  by 
governments  and  non-governmental  organizations, the level of awareness regarding its importance remains 
low.  Companies  which  dominate  the  oil  industry  lack  incentives  to  pursue  sustainable  goals,  and 
concentrate  on  profits  rather  than  incorporate  social  and  environmental  factors  into  their  operational 
system.  
 
It  is  claimed  that  the  achievement  of  three  goals  simultaneously  is  impossible.  However,  three  forms  of 
sustainability  are  supplementary  towards  one  another,  creating  an environment of mutual benefits that can 
thrive  in  the  long  run.  Even  though  it  can  be  challenging  initially,  long-term  benefits  are  worthwhile  and 
efforts  to  accomplish  the balance is an urgent mission not just within the council committee but also in the 
world. 
 
Topic History 
In  history,  several  oil-related disastrous incidents36 have occurred, which are adverse to the development of 
the Arab League including: 
● 19/01/2004​:  The  fire  and  explosion in Skikda, Algeria cost the lives of 27 people, injured 72 with 7 
missing,  amounted  to  about  $470,000,000,  and  released  enormous  carbon  emissions  into  the  air, 
causing what is known as “oil pollution” 
● 25/06/2000​:  The  fire  and  explosion  in  Mina  Al-Ahmadi,  Kuwait  seized  lives  of  at  least 50 people 
and cost a total of $380,000,000 for damage caused 
 
The  above  two  incidents  are  just  part  of  an  endless  list  of  misfortunes  within  the  oil  industry  that  entail 
long-lasting  consequences  regarding  environmental,  social,  and  economic  factors.  It  was  such  accidents 
that raised the idea of sustainability within the oil industry. 
Sustainability  officially  emerged  the  first  time  following  the  incidence  of  oil  spill  in  Santa  Barbara  that 
caused  devastation  within  wildlife  and  the  natural  environment  in  the  area  in  1696.  The  terminology 
entered  the  mainstream  conception  and  practice  in  the  1972  Unite​d  ​Nations  Conference  on  the  Human 
Environment.37  Gradually,  the  conception  transferred  across  the  globe,  seeking  to  provide  essentials  for 
residents  and,  furthermore,  attempt  to  achieve  sustainable  development.  It  extended  towards  other 
industries  including  the  oil  industry.  In  Arab  countries  that  are  responsible  for  a  vast  amount  of  oil 
production  in  the  world,  OAPEC  was  founded  in  order  to  cater  for  the  need  to  build  a  sustainable  oil 
industry  from  members.  It  was  not  until  recent  years  that  Arab  League  countries  particularly  considered 
sustainability as an ultimate goal and actively participated in conferences or projects on this topic.  
 

​Staff, Oil & Gas. “Top Ten: Oil and Gas Disasters.” ​Oil & Gas Middle East,​ Oil and Gas Middle East, 30 Sept. 2015,
36

www.oilandgasmiddleeast.com/article-14593-top-ten-oil-and-gas-disasters​.

37
​“A Short History of Sustainable Development.” ​Rethinking Prosperity,​ 20 May 2015,
rethinkingprosperity.org/a-short-history-of-sustainable-development/.

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The Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)38 

A  significant  milestone  with  regards  to  sustainable  development  of  the  oil  industry  in  the  Arab  League 
countries  is  the  establishment  of  the  organization  of  Arab  Petroleum  Exporting  Countries  (OAPEC)  as  a 
regional  intergovernmental  organization.  The  organization  is  comprised  of  11  official  members  and  has 
sponsored  4  major  joint  ventures  including  the  Arab  Maritime  Petroleum  Transport  Company  (AMPTC), 
the  Arab  Shipbuilding  and  Repair  Yard  Company  (ASRY),  the  Arab  Petroleum  Investments  Corporation 
(APICORP), and the Arab Petroleum Services Company (APSC). Additionally, it also hosts conferences on 
the  oil  industry  with  hundreds  of  participants.  The  organization  is  considered  as  the  headquarter  to  unite 
members and the pioneer in sustainability activities within the region. 
The  foundational  objective  of  OAPEC  is  the  cooperation  of  members  via  economic  activities,  the 
determination  of  methods  to  safeguard  the  legitimacy  of  its  member  states’  interests,  the  unification  of 
efforts  to  ensure  the  equitability  and  reasonability  of  the  petroleum market, and the provision of a suitable 
and thriving environment for investment within OAPEC. 
 
 
III. Current Situation:  
1. General Situation  
Recent  years  have  observed  increasing  concerns  over  environmental,  social,  and  economic  impacts  of  the 
oil industry. Procedures from crude oil to complete products are complex and include various stages. These 
aforementioned  processes,  however  standard  they  are,  still  cause  unfortunate influences, which affects not 
only  the industry but also the daily lives of humans. Environmental issues capture remarkable attention due 
to  its  intimate  connection  with  life  quality.  During  finery  steps,  oil  can  be  spilled,  causing  devastating 
consequences  to  the  marine  ecosystem  such  as  water  pollution  and  life  obscurity.  Additionally,  overall 
safety  and  health  of  workers  at  oil  sites  are  not  adequately  secured  as  they  are  constantly  exposed  to  dirt, 
which  draws  global  attention  to  social  sustainability.  Lastly,  oil  price  fluctuations  establish  an  unstable 
economic  market,  causing  financial  losses  particularly  within  Arab  League  members  who are highly reliant 
on  oil  for  revenue.  Despite  joint  ventures  between  states  and  international  organizations,  Arab  League 
members still struggle to achieve sustainability goals in the oil industry. 
 
2. Case Studies 
United Arab Emirates  
UAE is viewed as a pioneer in the clean oil industry with extensive application of technologies and research 
about  advanced  materials,  transportation  methods,  and  refinery  process.  The  government  is  collaborating 
with  inter-continental  companies  and  other  developed  countries  (Denmark)  to  reduce  reliance  on  the  oil 
industry,  promote  economic  stability,  and  ameliorate  environmental  issues.  Nevertheless,  abundant 
resources  and  insignificant  awareness  have  turned  UAE  into  an  ideal  location  for  exploitation  for 
commercial purposes. 
 
Republic of Yemen 

38
​The Petroleum Industry in OAPEC Member Countries.​ Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, pp. 1–36,
The Petroleum Industry in OAPEC Member Countries​.

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As  a  low-income  and  economically  unstable  country,  Yemen  counts  on  declining oil and gas resources for 
25%  of  GDP  and  65%  of  governmental  revenue.39  Its  dependence  on  oil  has  led  the  country to succumb 
to  any  price  changes.  The  Yemeni  government  tries  to  diversify  the  oil  sector  by  eliminating  unnecessary 
oil subsidies, but the plan fails due to the ongoing civil war in the country. 
 
State of Kuwait  
Though  Kuwait  is  not  in  the  vanguard  of  sustainable  development,  it  attempts  to  limit  reliance  on  the  oil 
industry  and  create  a  balanced  environment  among  economic,  social,  and  environmental  factors.  The 
economic  situation  is  greatly  reliant  on  the  oil  industry  with petroleum forming over half of GDP, 92% of 
export  revenues  and  90%  government  income.  To  limit  its  dependence,  the  government  endeavors  to 
defend  itself  against  impacts  of  changing  oil  prices  by  saving annually at least 10% of government revenue 
in  the  Fund  for  Future  Generations.40  Regarding  environmental  issues,  loss  of  agriculture,  pollution,  and 
biodiversity  damage  result  from  oil-producing  process  and  accidents  (oil  fires),  urging  the  government  to 
adapt to these issues through policy and establishment of research agencies.  
 
 
Kingdom of Bahrain  
Oil  comprises  85%  of  national  budget  revenues;  as  a  result, decreasing world energy prices have produced 
tremendous  budget  deficits  of  about  10%  GDP  in  2017  solely.  Bahrain  is  confronted  with  internal  and 
external  crises  because  of  growing  national  debts  and  widespread  social  disapproval  of  budget  cuts.  The 
government  has  undertaken  actions  to  diversify  the  market  by  signing  trade  deals  and  raise  approximately 
$4 billion dollars to compensate for sizeable financial losses.41 
 
 
IV. Past International Action: 
Time   Event 

1933  The  founding  of  the  ​World  Petroleum  Council  (WPC)  in  London.42  As  an 
international,  unbiased,  and  non-political  organization,  the  council  ’s  ultimate 
goal  is  to  attain  scientific  achievements,  transfer  technology,  promote  the 
management  of  the  world’s  petroleum resources, and address the member states’ 
concerns with sustainability. 

39
​“The World Factbook: Yemen.” ​Central Intelligence Agency,​ Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018,
www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ym.html​.
40
​“The World Factbook: Kuwait.” ​Central Intelligence Agency​, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018,
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ku.html​.

​“The World Factbook: Bahrain.” ​Central Intelligence Agency,​ Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018,
41

www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ba.html​.

​World Petroleum Council Launches Global Youth Initiative​,

42

www.world-petroleum.org/resources/press-releases/75-wpc-youth-init​.

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1960   The  founding  of  the  ​Organization  of  the  Petroleum  Exporting  Countries 
(OPEC)  in  Baghdad  by  Iran,  Iraq,  Kuwait,  Saudi  Arabia,  and  Venezuela.43  The 
organization  endeavors  to  ensure  economic  and  income  stabilization  for  the  oil 
industry. 

9  January  The  founding  of  the  ​Organization  of  Arab  Petroleum  Exporting  Countries 
1968  (OAPEC)  in  Beirut.44  As  a  regional  intergovernmental  organization,  OAPEC 
endeavors  to  realize  and  tackle  issues  in  regards  to  the  oil  industry  which  may 
pose threats to its sustainable and long-term development. 

July 2017  A  joint  report  among  ​IPIECA​,  the  ​UNDP​,  and  the  ​IFC​:  ​Mapping  the  oil  and gas 
​ as launched at the UN High 
industry  to  the  Sustainable  Development  Goals: An Atlas w
-  Level  Political  Forum  in  New  York,  the  USA  to  promote  shared  knowledge 
about sustainable development of oil industry.45 

20-22  At  the  ​21st  International  Conference  on  Petroleum,  Mineral  Resources​, 
February 2018  and  Development​,  member  states  discussed  the  establishment  of  the  ​Arab 
Petroleum  Council  (APC) ​with the aim to balance between the oil industry and 
environmental aspects under the umbrella of OAPEC.46 

1-4  October  At  the  ​11th  Arab  Energy  Conference,  ​with  the  participation  of  the  League  of 
2018  Arab  States,  the  conference  highlighted  issues  including challenges within the oil 
industry  for  Arab  Oil  Exports  and  emphasized  the  need  for  timely  investment 
mobility in the face of sustainable and inclusive growth.47 
 
V. Possible Solutions/ Case study:  
Nigeria48  
The  goal  of  sustainable  development and economic growth in the oil industry of Nigeria Delta are realistic, 
and  achievable  under  the  proper  implementation  of  macroeconomic  objectives.  Looking  back  in  the past, 
the  associated  failures  of  the  national  oil  industry  mainly  come  from  (i) the inequality in the market power 
distribution to some large firms, (ii) the exploitation of domestic workers, (iii) the under-democratic control 
within the oil industry.  

43
​“Brief History.” ​OPEC,​ ​www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/24.htm​.
44
​OAPEC,​ ​www.oapecorg.org/Home/About-Us/History​.
45
​“Mapping the Oil and Gas Industry to the Sustainable Development Goals: An Atlas.” ​IPIECA,​
www.ipieca.org/resources/awareness-briefing/mapping-the-oil-and-gas-industry-to-the-sustainable-development-goals-an-at
las/​.
46
​Epri.sci.eg​, ​www.epri.sci.eg/conf/index.php/news-media/blog/83-recommendations-21-conf​.
47
​“OAPEC.” ​Welcome to OAPEC,​
www.oapecorg.org/Home/Activities/Seminars-and-Conferences/Arab-Energy-Conferences/Tenth-Arab-Energy-Conference​.
48
​http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.458.3873&rep=rep1&type=pdf

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In  order  to  successfully  obtain  the  goals  of  sustainable  development  in  the oil industry, the member states 
of  Arab  League  are  encouraged  to  review  the  case  study  of  Nigeria  to prevent similar phenomenons from 
happening within their national oil market.  
Furthermore,  many  oil  industry  operational  plans  that  incorporate  the  Sustainable  Development  Goals 
suggested that:  
- Improves  management  with  the  applications  of  Information  and Communication Technology into 
Digital  Data  Management  that  promotes  synergies  between  national  governments,  local 
institutions, and firms,  
- Determines  the  local  labor  force  if  they  are  capable  of  providing  suitable  skills  for  various 
operational phases and projects,  
- Requires  and  strictly  supervises  the  water  management  plans  of  firms  to  ensure  the  water  supply 
will  not  run  scarcity  and  process  of  oil  extraction  and  exploitation  does  not  affect  the  local 
livelihood and environment,  
- Recommends  the  implementation  of  additional  healthcare  benefits  for  the  labor  force and citizens 
who reside in the surrounding areas.  
VI. Questions to Consider  
Delegates  are  expected  to  use  these  questions  to  further  their  research  apply  to  the  debate  sessions  during  the 
conference.  
● What  are  the  negative  externalities  of  oil  consumption?  And  how  can  the  national  government 
ensure  the  economic  growth  in  the  oil  industry  will  not  bring  up  the  long-term  impact  on  social 
development (i.e., livelihood, environment, etc.)?  
● Under  what  conditions  can  oil  exploitation  and  extraction  deliver  joint  social,  environmental  and 
economic development?  
● To what extent does the national government take part in natural resource control? 
● To what extent is it appropriate for the government to subsidize the oil industry?  
● To what extent should oil exploitation a leading industry of Arab League in the long-term?  
● How does market mechanism take part in adjusting the oil exported and imported price level?  
● What are the consequences of managerial responsibility with regards to the oil market?  
● How should firms incorporate environmentally sustainable strategies in their business plan? What is 
the expectation from the national government and the League?  
● What  are  the  roles  of  the  Arab  League  in  strengthening  the  sustainable  development  of  the  oil 
industry?  
● What  are  the  challenges  to  obtaining  sustainable  development  of  the  oil  industry?  How  can  the 
firms, national government, and the Arab League overcome these issues?  
● To  what  extent  does  international  cooperation  take  part in incentivizing a stabilized and affordable 
oil market?   
 
 
 
 
 
 

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