Also known as the League of Arab States. Founded in 1945, the Arab League consists of 22 member-states. It is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.  According to Article II of the Arab League Charter, its purpose is to strengthen “the relations between the member-states, the coordination of their policies in order to achieve co-operation between them and to safeguard their independence and sovereignty; and a general concern with the affairs and interests of the Arab countries.” See Ziring, Lawrence. The Middle East: A Political Dictionary. Denver: Western Michigan University, 1992; and “Profile: Arab League.” 9 March 2011. BBC. 21 July 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/1550797.stm. http://www.justvision.org/glossary/arab-league