From Subregional Bloc to International Actor? The GCC and the Evolution of Regional Actorness

Abstract

How is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) an international actor? The question what kind of entity the GCC is – or is aspiring to become – has been a subject of debate since the formation of the organisation in 1981. Over the past decade, the GCC has assumed a more prominent role in regional and international affairs. This transformation has elevated the organisation from a primarily subregional framework for cooperation into a more visible and internationally recognised actor in its own right. Combining new regionalism theory (NRT) with the concept of actorness, assessed through the dimensions of presence, recognition, attractiveness, capability/capacity and opportunity or necessity to act, we examine the GCC’s evolving role in an increasingly multipolar international order. The findings suggest that GCC actorness has reached its highest level to date, reflected in growing external recognition, expanding strategic partnerships and increasing involvement in regional and international diplomacy. Unlike the EU, however, the GCC’s international role is not rooted in supranational institutions. Rather, its actorness derives from functional cooperation, external legitimacy and the collective diplomatic engagement of its member states, illustrating an alternative pathway through which regional organisations can emerge as international actors.