1st Edition
Interstate Conflicts and the International Civil Aviation Organization Depoliticization in Multilateral Diplomacy
This book investigates the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and politicized debates held there. The author explores how participants have employed depoliticization as a defensive diplomatic technique in a multilateral forum. Analyzing cases such as the ICAO membership/ statehood of Spain, Taiwan, Cyprus, and South Africa; various instances of the Arab–Israeli conflict; shootdowns of the Korean aircraft by the USSR and Iranian aircraft by the United States; and the 21st century tensions between Russia and Western countries, the book focuses on how states under criticism defended themselves and used depoliticization rhetoric to weaken ICAO decisions. The book allows us to see how rivalries play out in a different environment to more investigated cases in the UN and INGOs such as the International Olympic Committee. This broad scope will appeal to scholars and students of international relations and political science, the Cold War, the Sino–Taiwanese conflict and the Arab–Israeli conflict. It will also appeal to practitioners working in civil aviation.
List of figures
List of tables
Acknowledgments
List of acronyms
Introduction
1 The ICAO: History, structure, and functioning
The origins
General information and organizational structure
ICAO’s relevance
Conclusions
2 Politics, politicization, and depoliticization in international organizations
Politicization
Depoliticization
Depoliticization as a diplomatic technique
Conclusions
3 Conflicts over ICAO membership and members’ statehood
Spain’s ICAO membership
Chinese membership in ICAO
South Africa’s ICAO membership
The conflict between Cyprus and Turkey
Conclusions
4 The Arab– Israeli conflict in the ICAO
Israeli complaints about civil aviation difficulties created by the Arab states
Israeli attack on Beirut airport in 1968
Interception of the Lebanese civil aircraft by the Israeli Air Force in 1973
Jerusalem airport controversy
Observer status of the Palestine Liberation Organization
Interception of Libyan Arab Airlines flight by Israel 1986
Conclusions
5 The political context of shootdowns of civil aircraft
Shootdown of the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by the USSR in 1983
Shootdown of the Iran Air Flight 655 by the United States in 1988
Conclusions
6 Tensions between Russia and the West on the forum of ICAO
Forced landing of Ryanair Flight 4978 in Minsk
The Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia– West estrangement at the 41st Assembly
Conclusions
Conclusions
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Michał M. Kobierecki is an associate professor of political science at the University of Lodz, Poland. He has over 50 scientific publications, including two books, one of which is published in English. He spent his whole research career working on international relations, with a specific emphasis on politics and sport.