The Stagnant Union: The Dual Division of Gulf Integration

Bálint Vara

doi:10.32976/stratfuz.2026.19

Authors

Bálint Vara Corvinus University of Budapest

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32976/stratfuz.2026.19

Keywords:

integration efforts, GCC, European Union, polarization

Abstract

The Persian Gulf region has gradually emerged from its peripheral position as a result of its rapid economic and political development. In line with the broader wave of regional integration that became a global trend during the second half of the twentieth century, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established in 1981. The member states' shared historical, linguistic, religious, and ethnic characteristics, together with favorable economic prospects, created a unique set of conditions conducive to closer cooperation. Similar to the European Union, one of the GCC's principal objectives was the establishment of a highly integrated form of regional cooperation. In the decades following the signing of its founding charter, however, the Council faced both external and internal divisions, which significantly hindered the deepening of integration. The process of regional integration in the Gulf and the challenges accompanying it can be examined from several perspectives. One widely applicable and effective approach is chronological analysis, which follows the sequence of events over time. Another analytical framework focuses on decision-making processes, examining how individual decisions have shaped the dynamics of cooperation within the organization. This study centers on the key developments that have been most influential in shaping the evolution of Gulf integration, grouping these events according to different analytical criteria. Furthermore, the analysis adopts a comparative qualitative case study approach, highlighting the similarities and differences between Gulf regional cooperation and the European Union, which serves as the primary reference model.

Author Biography

Bálint Vara, Corvinus University of Budapest

Doctoral School of International Relations and Political Science, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest

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