Which among the following organizations is the world's oldest regional organization?

Correct option is A

Introduction

Regional organizations are formed to promote cooperation among countries within a specific region, and the world’s oldest regional organization is the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Instruction: Although the Organisation of American States (OAS) was formally constituted in 1948, it is regarded as the world’s oldest regional organization because it has an institutional continuity dating back to 1890 through its predecessor, the International Union of American Republics, making it older in origin than the Arab League (1945).

Information Booster

• Organisation of American States (OAS) - The roots of the OAS go back to 1890 with the establishment of the International Union of American Republics.
• This body later evolved into the Pan American Union, which functioned as a permanent inter-American organization.
• In 1948, the organization was formally restructured and renamed as the Organisation of American States under the Charter of Bogotá.
• Because the OAS represents a direct continuation of the 1890 institution, its historical origin is considered to be 1890, not 1948.
• This uninterrupted evolution makes the OAS the oldest continuously existing regional organization in the world.

Additional Knowledge

• The Arab League -
  • The Arab League was founded in 1945.
  • It does not have an earlier institutional predecessor, so its origin does not extend beyond 1945.
• European Free Trade Association (EFTA) -
  • EFTA was established in 1960.
  • It is a much later economic bloc with no claim to historical precedence.
• The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) -
  • The OAU was formed in 1963.
  • It was replaced by the African Union in 2002, ending institutional continuity.