Officially called the League of Arab Nations, the Arab League was formed in 1945 as a regional organization of Arab states. The Arab League is involved in a variety of programs with the goal of promoting the interests of member nations. It has been used as a platform to set educational curricula, establish cultural preservation programs, initiate literacy campaigns, and encourage cultural exchange between member states. It has also been instrumental as a diplomatic platform, serving as a forum for mediation of disputes between member states. Recently, the Arab League has served as a platform for negotiations between Hezbollah and the government of Lebanon.

• Times Online: Comment: Arab plan 'only show in town' (2007)