construction. Naturally, we are open to suggestions from all readers of,
and contributors to, the series regarding its approach and content.
Finally, I would like to thank all those who have helped the launch of
this series. The encouraging response received from authors who have
contributed the forthcoming volumes and from the subscribers to the
series has indicated the need for such a publication. Homa Motamen-Scobi
London December 1987 Preface In 1990 both OPEC and the OECD will
celebrate their thirtieth anntvers- aries. OPEC was founded - rather
unnoticed - by oil-producing countries still struggling to gain control
over national petroleum resources. Future members were still under
colonial rule. The foremost aim of the new organization - years before
it was able to make metropolitan newspaper headlines - was stabilizing
oil prices. Stability in those days meant prevent- ing oil prices from
falling in real terms. The OECD was formed by mostly mature industrial
economies marking the normalization of the postwar international economy
after years of reconstruction, strict trade regulations, etc. The aim of
the new organization was to promote 'the highest sustainable growth and
employment' in member countries. Incidentally, 1960 was also the year
which gave birth to a more loosely defined block in the world community,
namely the underdeveloped countries, qS the African colonial empires
finally broke up. The two organizations became adversaries in the 1970s
in the power struggle over the energy flows of the world.
