Katie Evans

Rationale: During the Eurasian Conference your goal is to accurately represent your
nation's interests regarding several regional and international issues. After
completing this research you will have a better basis for decision making regarding
your country. This is by far the most important work for the Eurasian Conference so
please make use of the time that you have to complete it. It is very difficult to do the
night before it is due!
Note: A few of these questions may not apply to your nation. If they do not, please
type the question and explain why it is not applicable to your nation. If you attempt
to find an answer and cannot, please type the question and then type the three
sources you consulted to try to find the answer.
Students have found this document to be invaluable for the country meetings of the
fourth quarter.
Here is a list of links that will help you get started.
Geopolitical Analysis
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1)

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Geography and Social Cohesion

What is the size of your country in square kilometers?

2,149,690 sq km
2)

Is your country dependent on another country for a major portion of its water? If

so, which country or countries?

No, we have access to the ocean.
3)

What are the major religious groups in your society, and at what percentages?

We are 100% Muslim.

4)

What ethnic groups are there present in your country? Identify which groups are

most influential in national politics.

We are 90% Arab, 10% Afro-Asian.
5)

What percentage of your population is literate?

78.8% are literate by age 15.

6)

What percentage of your population has a high school education? College

education?
All residents are required to attend 14 years of education (primary to tertiary).

7)

When did women get the right to vote in your country?

Women cannot vote or be elected to run for high political positions, although King
Adbullah has declared that women will be able to vote and run in the 2015 local
elections.
8)

Presently, what limits are placed on womens rights in your country?

All women, regardless of age are required to have a male guardian. It is the only
country that prohibits women from driving. 21% of saudi women are in workforce.
9)

What rights do men enjoy in your country that women do not?

Men have all the power in this country, and the women cant do anything about it.
They can drive, vote, run for office, live alone, go into military, work, and many more.
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Economics

10) What is your country's Gross Domestic Product GDP in terms of purchasing power
parity? GDP is the total value of goods and services produced within a country in a
year.
Our GDP (ppp) is $676.7 billion.
11) What is your country's GDP per capita (GDP divided by the population)?
Our GDP per capita is $24,000
12) To maintain your countrys security and well-being, what are the five most
significant commodities imported into your country?
We import machinery and equiptment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles and
textiles. Our import partners are the US, China, Germany, Japan, France, India and
South Korea.
13) To maintain your countrys security and well-being, what are the five most
significant commodities exported from your country?
We export one-fifth of the worlds petroleum, and we play a leading role in OPEC.
Thats 90% of the exports, and we make $350.7 billion with that. Our export partners
are Japan, China, US, South Korea, India, and Singapore.
14) Who are your five most important trade partners?
Our 5 most important trade partners are Japan, US, China, India, South Korea, and
Germany.
15) Why is maintaining positive relations with major trading partners vital to a
successful foreign policy?
Its vital because we make most of our money off exporting oil. We must keep stable
relationships or else our economy will plummit.

16) In rank order, from which three countries does your country import oil? OR, if
your country is an oil-exporting nation, to which countries does your country export
oil.
We export to Japan, China and the US.
17) What skills or other factors of your labor force give your country advantages in
global economic competition? Explain.
We have people that are able to rule our oil industry, but 80% of the oil laborers are
overseas migrant workers.
18) What were your countrys carbon emissions, in tons per capita, in 1990?
Our carbon emissions were 13.2 in 1990.
19) What were your countrys carbon emissions, in tons per capita, in 2007?
Our carbon emissions were 16.1 in 2007.
20) Currently, how are carbon-based fossil fuels (coal, gasoline, etc) taxed in your
country?
We
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National Security

22) Against whom does your country now feel that it must defend itself?
We have reinforced a security barrier along sections of Yemen to stem illegal crossborder activities. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are discussing a maritime boundary with
Iran.
23) Is your military used to suppress the people in your country? Explain.
Yes. We use our military to suppress people, especially women. Women have next to
no rights in our country, so if a woman tries to lash out against the government she
will be beaten, imprisoned or potentially executed.
24) What percentage of your GDP is spent on defense?
We spend 8.7% on defense.
25) Does your country have nuclear weapon (not nuclear power plants)?
We do not possess nuclear weapons.
26) Who else in your region has nuclear weapons?
Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Israel
27) What would be the security implications to your country if neighboring countries
developed nuclear weapons?
We would take caution, since we do not have nuclear power ourselves.
28) Does your country have nuclear power plants?

No we do not.
29) Has your country signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
Yes we signed it.
30) Is your country under outside pressure to reform its behavior in the area of
human rights? Explain.
Yes we are. We hardly give women any rights, and many countries including the USA.
Principal human rights issues include abuse of prisionsers and incommunicado
detention; prohibitations or sever restrictons on freedom of speech, press, peaceful
assembly and association and religon; denial of the right of citizens to change their
government; systematic discrimination against women and ethnic and religious
minorities; and suppression of workers rights.
31) How many internet users in your country? How does this compare to the rest of
the world? How many internet hosts in your country? How does this compare to the
rest of the world?
9.774 million users (27 in the world).

147,202 internet hosts.

32) In what ways does your country limit or filter internet use?
Weve had internet since 1994, but restricted its use to state academic, medical and
research institutions. Saudi citizens were free to purchase computers and modems
and could connect to internet through dial-up service to foreign ISPs and launch
websites on foreign servers. It wasnt until 1999 that local ISPs began connecting
ordinary citizens due to the self-proclaimed determination of authorities to establish a
system for controlling the flow of information online. There is a standing committee
that protects society from material on the internet that is considered immoral or
encroaches traditions in the culture. Users that attempt to access banned sites
recieve warnings.
33) Is personal internet data protected in your country? How?
No, the government has access to view what youre up to.
34) Do citizens or subjects of your country have a right to free speech? How is this
right guaranteed?
Blasphemy against islam is illegal. Individual freedom of speech and peaceful
assembly are not respected and are completely banned by the royal government.
Any speech or public demonstration can lead to imprisonment, corporal punishment,
even execution.
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Politics and Foreign Policy

35) What form of government does your country have? How does your government

actually work? Avoid propaganda in your response.

We have Monarchy with Council of Minister and Consultative Council. Theres an
Executive branch (the King who is chief of state and head of government; rules under
the title Custodian of the Two Holy Moques). Theres a Legislative branch (a
Cosultative Council with advisory powers. Formed in September 1993). There is a
Judicial branch (Supreme Court, Supreme Judicial Council, Islamic Courts of First
Instance and Appeals). There are no political parties.
36) What are three key national interests of your country?
Nuclear Nonproliferation, Saudi Arabia Moves to Take Down Syria, Iran and Hezbollah
37) What are the three most significant goals that your country wants to meet in its
foreign policy?
Were focused on co-operation with the gulf states, the unity of the arab world, and
solidarity with the muslim countries.
38) With which countries does your country have trade agreements?
We have the 4th biggest trade current account surplus in the world. We are a
founding member of the Riyadh baed Gulf Cooperation Council along with United
Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The GCC (launched 2003)
eliminates tariffs enabling the free movement of labour and capital internally and
creating a unified 5% external tariff on most imported products. The final phase of
this will be implemented in 2015. We have free trade agreements with Singapore and
the Free Trade Association. S.A. is also part of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area
(1997) with Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. We also have bilateral trade investements with Austria,
Azerbaijan, Belgum, China, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea
an Taiwan. Other agreements have been signed with Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon,
Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.
39) With which countries does your country have treaties of alliance (military and
security)?
In the 18th century we allied with Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab. In the 18th-19th
centuries, we contested with Egypt and the Ottoman Empire. In 1936 we allied with
them. Relations with USA and Britain have been the best in the west between Arabs
and Westerners.
40) What major disputes does your country have with the United States?
We disagree with human rights. The United States are very concerned about how we
treat women in our country. Also, we have a long oil history.
41) What common interests does your country share with the United States?
We currently have pretty good relations, as well as mind set on the war on terrorism.

42) What difficulties might arise in your relationship with the U.S. in the next years?
We could dispute about oil or about human rights.
43) What common interests does your country share with the big powers (China,
India, Japon) in Asia?
We are both interested in oil and trade.
44) What difficulties might arise in your relationship with the big powers in Asia in the
next years?
As the prices of oil go up, we could dispute about that since Saudi Arabia distributes
25% of the worlds oil.
45) What common interests does your country share with the European Union?
We are both part of the GCC. Our main objectives are to enhance coordination,
integration and inter-connection among its Member States in different sphere.

____ 10 Strategic Analysis

46) What unique qualities does your country have in the global community that
provide an advantage in your dealings with other countries?
My country has a lot of guts, and knows what it wants. We have oil which is like liquid
gold, and we arent a super poor either. We have a good shot at this Eurasian
Conference!
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Final Reflection

Now that you have a grasp of the basic contours of your country, please consider the
following questions and write a thoughtful response:
47) In making decisions regarding global issues, what are the most important
realities in your nation? What will your focus be in shaping your foreign policy?
Please explain your reasoning.
I will really have to take into account my country's religious views when making
decisions for my country. If I could I would abolish the inhumanities towards women,
but that isnt possible with all the traditions and values their religion holds. I will have
to take into account a lot of underground views while trying to shape our foreign
policy. We cant let other countries bully us by threatening our alliances, and we have

a lot to offer with our oil supply. Id like to see Saudi Arabia help its economy by hiring
more local people to help pump oil instead of the oversea workers.