The Gulf Cooperation Council : search for unity in a dynamic region /

Peterson (a consultant and former editor of American-Arab Affairs) has written a first-rate primer on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which was created in 1981 by six Arab states as a mechanism for gradual economic and political integration. Over the course of the Iran-Iraq war, the GCC has increased in importance as a locus for the coordination of defense and security policies. After presenting a very clear and judicious introduction to the Arab Gulf states, Peterson provides a detailed account of the establishment of the Council, its component organs, and its efforts in the realms of politics, economics, and defense. He concludes with a cautiously optimistic assessment. The text is complemented by a generous and pertinent selection of maps, figures, photographs, tables, and documents, plus a good bibliography and an index. This meticulously researched book is most welcome as a unique contribution to Middle East studies and to the field of international organization. Recommended for advanced undergraduates and public library patrons. -A. R. Norton, United States Military Academy