A brown bag discussion with Jean-Francois Seznec

Dr. Seznec, prominent expert on the Persian Gulf, will discuss the strategy that Saudi Arabia has adopted to become as dominant in the petrochemicals market as they are in the oil market. He contends that the Saudis are likely to become the largest producers in the world, displacing German producers and other large Western firms. This economic battle is taking place mainly in China, which in itself has important political and strategic ramifications.

Dr. Seznec has been an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s Middle East Institute for 19 years. His research centers on the influence of Arab-Persian Gulf political and social variables on the financial and oil markets in the region. He is Senior Advisor to PFC Energy in Washington, DC, has published and lectured extensively, and is interviewed regularly by the national and foreign press.