Andre Goodfriend was Deputy Chief of Mission from 2013 to 2015 at the US Embassy in Budapest. In the absence of an ambassador, most of the time he was Charge d'Affaires. Goodfriend represented his country, and for that matter, liberal democracy, in the early period of the increasingly autocratic Orban regime. This tenure was distinguished by an unusually high public visibility and broad-based popularity. This book contains the distilled essence of conversations recorded in the fall of 2015 and in the years after his departure.

Aside from Goodfriend's reflections on his personal history, the main focus of the deliberations is on open government: its characteristics, preconditions, benefits, and its relation to modern diplomacy. The mindset of a democracy-rooted diplomat with a working experience in an increasingly autocratic regime lends a particular perspective to the topics discussed. These topics include the fight against corruption, the protection of civil society, crisis prevention, education, economy, international relations, applied humanities, and the use of the social and traditional media to achieve policy goals.

This book presents modern, "people-friendly" diplomacy in an era in which public officials are increasingly expected to be transparent and engaged.

About the Author
Istvan Hargittai, PhD, DSc, is a physical chemist, Professor Emeritus (active) of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Reviews
"Hargittai professzor remek kerdezo, ezt valamennyi koenyveben megtapasztalhatjuk. Celratoerok es egyuttal erdekesek, egyediek a kerdesei, remek alatamasztasai a valaszoknak. E koenyveben a magyar olvaso szamara ket fejezet lehet kuloenoesen erdekes - az egyebkent ugyancsak egyedi hangu ertekekeket hordozo toebbi koezoett. Egyreszt Goodfriend szemelyes toertenete, masfelol nyilvan az a resz, amely magyarorszagi tapasztalatairol szol. Szeretni valo es nagyon erdekes olvasmany ez a koetet, frissito gondolati elmenyt jelentett szamomra..." "Professor Hargittai is a great questioner, as we can see in all his books. His questions are purposeful and at the same time interesting and unique, and they provide excellent support for the answers." https://nepszava.hu/3208717_beszelgetesek-egy-jobarattal -- Zsuzsa Szentgyoergyi * Nepszava *



Book Information
ISBN 9789633866085
Author Istvan Hargittai
Format Paperback
Page Count 166
Imprint Central European University Press
Publisher Central European University Press
Weight(grams) 232g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 9mm