Interstate Conflicts and the International Civil Aviation Organization : Depoliticization in Multilateral Diplomacy / Michał M. Kobierecki.

Introduction1.The ICAO: History, Structure, and FunctioningThe OriginsGeneral information and organizational structureICAO's relevanceConclusions2. Politics, politicization, and depoliticization in international organizationsPoliticizationDepoliticizationDepoliticization as a diplomatic techniqueConclusions3. Conflicts over ICAO membership and members' statehoodSpain's ICAO membershipChinese membership in ICAOSouth Africa's ICAO membershipThe conflict between Cyprus and TurkeyConclusions4. The Arab-Israeli conflict in the ICAOIsraeli complaints about civil aviation difficulties created by the Arab statesIsraeli attack on Beirut airport in 1968Interception of the Lebanese civil aircraft by the Israeli Air Force in 1973Jerusalem airport controversyObserver status of the Palestine Liberation OrganizationInterception of Libyan Arab Airlines flight by Israel 1986Conclusions5. The political context of shootdowns of civil aircraftShootdown of the Korean Airlines flight 007 by the USSR in 1983Shootdown of the Iran Air flight 655 by the US in 1988Conclusions6. Tensions between Russia and the West on the forum of ICAOForced landing of Ryanair Flight 4978 in MinskThe Russian invasion of UkraineRussia-West estrangement at the 41st AssemblyConclusionsConclusionsAcknowledgementsBibliographyPrimary sourcesArchival documentsDatasetsInternational treaties and conventionsSocial media postsUN ResolutionsWebsitesSecondary sourcesAcknowledgementsAcronymsList of tablesList of figuresIndex

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.