Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

See the Conversations with History Blog See a webcast of this interview: Berdahl

This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a Conversation with History. I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today is Robert M. Berdahl, who is the eighth chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley. A historian of modern Germany, Dr. Berdahl is the author of The Politics of the Prussian Nobility: The Development of a Conservative Ideology 1770-1848. Before coming to Berkeley, Chancellor Berdahl served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon from 1981 to '86, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1986 to 1993, and President of the University of Texas at Austin 1993 to 1997.

1. Background ... Midwestern values ... high school debate ... graduate school
2. Research ... German history and class relationships
3. From Research to Administration ... skills ... core values ... ambiguity ... management skills
4. The University as a Community ... pursuit of knowledge ... "inheriting the common world" ... education as transaction ... moral education
5. Challenges Confronting the University ... globalization ... market factors ... social mobility ... research and graduate education ... electronic communication ... buildings and books
6. Conclusion ... advice to students

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