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Identity-Based International Politics: The Case of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Foreign Aid Diplomacy
Abstract by Fukiko Ikehata On Session III-16  (Debates on Aid, Rents, and NGOs)

On Tuesday, November 12 at 11:30 am

2024 Annual Meeting

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the dynamics within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an intergovernmental organization comprising 57 member states, aimed at promoting the collective interests of the Muslim community (Ummah). Uniquely based on Islamic principles, the OIC often sees its member states' political actors engaging in religious discourse during its international conferences, especially when the Muslim community is facing a crisis. Previous research has primarily focused on the activities of international NGOs regarding the reality of international cooperation based on ties of religious identity, resulting in a lack of discussion on the connection between assistance and cooperative actions taken by political actors in international organizations and religious identity. Firstly, this study delves into the specifics of foreign aid provided by OIC member states, analyzing the beneficiaries, amounts, and the contexts under which aid is given. It is grounded in primary sources, including resolutions from OIC conferences and publications like the "OIC Journal". It explores how the OIC and its members project their Islamic identity on the global stage, thereby bolstering their national identity and legitimacy. Notably, The Gulf oil-producing countries emerge as primary contributors within the OIC framework. Through mechanisms such as the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and other entities, the OIC extends aid to nations in need, benefiting not only countries hosting Syrian refugees, those affected by disasters, Palestine and Afghanistan people but also Muslim minorities in non-member states, like the Rohingya refugees. This underscores the OIC's commitment to a form of aid that transcends its member states' boundaries and is deeply rooted in religious identity. Secondly this study will incorporate a discourse analysis to assess how political actors justify these acts of foreign aid, with a particular focus on the Gulf oil-producing countries. The concluding part of this study will reveal the interplay between identity-driven foreign aid policies and the reinforcement of a state's religious legitimacy. Countries in the Middle East, guided by their values and identity, cannot afford to overlook the plight of Muslim communities beyond their borders, such as those in Palestine, without risking their own legitimacy. This study aims to illuminate various aspects of these issues through the lens of international aid diplomacy.
Discipline
International Relations/Affairs
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Sub Area
None