Saudi ArabiaKeeper Of Islam's Holiest SitesAnd The World's Largest Reserves Of Oil

Tony Neidecker

Thursdays 10-12 Noon
October 2 through November 20, 2003
D.O.C. House

This course will focus on the Kingdom's dual responsibilities deriving from its preeminent position in the world of Islam and the world of oil. To give emphasis to the Saudis' belief that they are heirs to the pristine Islam of the 7th century, the first two sessions will be with Dick Nolte's class on Islam. Videotapes on Mohammed, Islam, and the Haj will be shown in the joint sessions. The syllabus will include excerpts from the Koran and other books to examine how the Kingdom's benevolent monarchy, using its income from oil, tries to improve the lives of Saudis while maintaining adherence to the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.

Topics will include:

1. Mohammed, joint session with Dick Nolte.
2. Islam, joint session with Dick Nolte.
3. The Wahhabis, history of Saudi Arabia, geography of Arabia.
4. Aramco and history of oil exploration.
5. Saudi economy, absence of taxes.
6. The house of Saud.
7. Women, marriage, social customs, education.
8. Relations with outside countries; summing up.

Class is limited to 20 participants.

Tony Neidecker lived in France for the first thirteen years of his life. After graduating from the Harvard Business School in 1949 he worked in financial positions in an Oregon bank, in an Iowan electronics company, with the John Deere Company in France, and for the last twenty years of his career in various international capacities in the Chase Manhattan Bank. On one assignment he spent four years in Saudi Arabia. Since his retirement, he has been involved with Historic Windsor, Volunteers in Action, Windsor County Partners, and is on the Board of Lebanon College. From 1990 - 1993, as part of a program of the Transnational Institute of Norwich, VT, he visited Russia annually to teach courses in finance.