A Critical Performance Evaluation of Organization of Islamic Cooperation OIC

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Dr Arsalan Mujtaba

History of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the world’s second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations, with 57 member states. It was founded in 1969 in response to the arson of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The OIC’s stated objectives are to promote Islamic solidarity, cooperation, and development, to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of Muslim states, and to protect the rights and interests of the Muslim people.

Objectives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

The OIC’s main objectives are as follows:

To promote Islamic solidarity and cooperation among its member states
To safeguard the independence and sovereignty of Muslim states
To protect the rights and interests of the Muslim people
To promote the economic, social, and cultural development of Muslim countries
To contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security

Performance of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

The OIC has achieved some notable successes in its history. For example, it has played a role in mediating conflicts between Muslim states, providing humanitarian assistance to countries in need, and promoting interfaith dialogue. However, the OIC has also been criticized for its lack of effectiveness on some issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Syrian civil war.

Critical Evaluation of OIC’s Performance on Palestine, Kashmir, and Other Territorial Issues

The OIC has been a vocal advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people and has consistently called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the OIC has been unable to prevent the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories or the construction of the Israeli barrier wall.

The OIC has also been a strong supporter of the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. However, the OIC has been unable to make significant progress on this issue, as India has refused to allow a referendum on Kashmir’s independence.

In addition to Palestine and Kashmir, the OIC has also been involved in other territorial disputes, such as the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh and the conflict between Morocco and Western Sahara. However, the OIC has been unable to resolve these disputes.

Overall, the OIC’s performance on territorial issues has been mixed. The OIC has been a vocal advocate for the rights of the Palestinian and Kashmiri people, but it has been unable to make significant progress on these issues. The OIC has also been involved in other territorial disputes, but it has been unable to resolve these disputes.

Critical Evaluation of the Performance of OIC:

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations, with 57 member states from four continents. The OIC aims to promote solidarity, cooperation, and harmony among the Muslim world, as well as to uphold international peace and security, human rights, and development. The OIC has adopted a strategic agenda for the current decade, called OIC-2025, which outlines 18 priority areas and 107 goals to achieve its vision.

The performance of the OIC to date can be critically evaluated based on the following criteria:

The extent to which the OIC has fulfilled its objectives and goals as stated in its charter and OIC-2025.
The challenges and opportunities faced by the OIC in implementing its programmes and activities.
The impact and relevance of the OIC’s actions and initiatives on the Muslim world and the international community.

Based on these criteria, the following paragraphs briefly analyze the OIC’s performance. The OIC has made some progress in fulfilling its objectives and goals, especially in the areas of peace and security, humanitarian assistance, women empowerment, cultural and interfaith dialogue, and media and public diplomacy. For example, the OIC has played an active role in mediating and resolving conflicts in various regions, such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya. The OIC has also provided humanitarian aid and relief to the victims of natural disasters, wars, and pandemics, such as the Rohingya crisis, the Syrian crisis, the COVID-19 outbreak, and the recent Israeli attacks on Palestine. The OIC has also launched several initiatives and platforms to promote the rights and empowerment of women in the Muslim world, such as the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women, the OIC Women Development Organization, and the International Conference on Women in Islam. The OIC has also fostered cultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation among its member states and with other regional and international organizations, such as the UN, the EU, the ASEAN, and the African Union. The OIC has also enhanced its media and public diplomacy capacity and outreach through the establishment of the OIC Media Forum, the OIC Journalists Network, and the OIC Information Portal.

However, the OIC also faces many challenges and limitations in implementing its programmes and activities, such as the lack of political will and commitment, the diversity and divergence of interests and views, the insufficient financial and human resources, the weak institutional and operational capacity, and the external interference and pressure from other actors. These challenges have hampered the OIC’s ability to effectively address the complex and urgent issues facing the Muslim world, such as the Palestinian cause, the Kashmir dispute, Islamophobia and extremism, poverty and inequality, climate change and environmental degradation, and the scientific and technological development. The OIC also needs to adapt and respond to the changing dynamics and realities of the global and regional environment, such as the emergence of new actors and alliances, the rise of new threats and opportunities, and the evolution of norms and values.

The impact and relevance of the OIC’s actions and initiatives on the Muslim world and the international community are mixed and varied, depending on the context and the perspective. On the one hand, the OIC has contributed to the protection and promotion of the common interests and values of the Muslim world, as well as the advancement of the global agenda of peace, security, and development. The OIC has also provided a platform and a voice for the Muslim world to engage and cooperate with other actors and stakeholders and to influence and shape international discourse and decision-making. On the other hand, the OIC has also faced criticism and scepticism from some quarters, who question its legitimacy, credibility, and effectiveness and who accuse it of being biased, divisive, and irrelevant. The emergence of alternatives has also challenged the OIC, and there is a leadership crisis in the OIC. It is divided between Arab and non-Arab countries with a sectarian divide of Sunni and Shia. Therefore, OIC has not been able to develop consensus on political and cultural issues.

Lastly, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is a complex and multifaceted organization with a long and complicated history. It has achieved some notable successes, but it has also been criticized for its lack of effectiveness on some issues. The OIC’s performance on territorial issues has been mixed, and it remains to be seen whether the organization will be able to play a more effective role in resolving these disputes in the future.

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