OICs Conflict Resolution Approach: The Iran and Iraq War (1980-1988) as a Case Study

A survey of Islamic history reveals that Muslims have a tradition of engaging in conflict resolution. Hence, it was no surprise that OIC actively engaged in resolving conflicts involving Muslims during its formative years in line with the mandate of its charter. This essay examines the OIC involvement in conflict resolution by using the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), which was a case of inter-state conflict involving two Muslim countries, as a case study. Its aim is to discuss OIC’s involvement by examining its methods and approaches of resolution that were applied to bring about peace between the two nations. Following the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, lack of cooperation led to growing tensions between Iran and its neighbour, Iraq, eventually leading a devastating decade of war. In examining OIC’s diplomatic method of bringing about peace, the essay employs document analysis and adopts an interpretivist approach. From this approach it will highlight the successes, challenges and lessons that were learnt. It concludes that in spite of OIC’s failure to bring about an end to the Iran and Iraq war, the organization was the “ideal mediator” in the said conflict; and therefore recommend for it to draw upon these lessons and apply these strategic conflict resolutions (for existing ones such as the intra-Gulf states conflict or potential conflicts).