Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

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

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 Franklin Pierce Huddle, who is the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan. Dr. Huddle has a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has had a distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service.

1. Background ... influence of parents ... teachers ... Peace Corps in Saudi Arabia ... attracted to Central Asia
2. Choosing the Foreign Service ... photographer for National Geographic... interest in languages ... special skills of diplomacy ... learning a new country
3. The State Department and its Culture ... first assignment: Iran ... unwillingness of those in power to hear opposing views ... new culture allows for "dissent channel"
4. Central Asia ... enjoying the challenge of small and isolated countries ... changed environment post-9/11 ... former Soviet states
5. A Survivor's Tale ... hijacked plane ... keeping one's head in a crisis ... priorities rearranged
6. Ambassador to Tajikistan ... the land and people ... photography ... meeting of the presidents ... counter-terrorism ... building democracy ... US AID and NGOs ... retro-Sovietism vs. fundamentalism ... Islamic opposition brought into the government
7. Economic Development ... narcotics trafficking ... legal exports ... regional solutions ... human decency
8. Conclusion ... advice for students ... great power jockeying ... lessons learned

See photos of Tajikistan by Ambassador Huddle, who is a former National Geographic photographer.

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