ABSTRACT
As international tensions and superpower rivalry in the region increased after the British withdrawal, Kuwait again took the lead in establishing closer ties among the Gulf states. In early 1981, Kuwait's foreign minister submitted to the Gulf governments a working paper proposing the establishment of a Gulf Cooperation Council, and on February 4 of the same year the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to draw up an organizational structure for the proposed council. Although the Gulf States have excellent economic potential, supported by good transport and communications networks, the achievement of the ultimate goal of the Gulf Cooperation Council depends upon success in transcending the external obstacles. The major problem faced by the Gulf states in increasing their supplies of skilled native manpower lies in the area of education. The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council lag far behind in terms of their political institutional development.
