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Alberto M. Piedra

Donald E. Bently Professor of Political Economy, Former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala

Professional Experience


  • Chairman, Department of Economics and Business, The Catholic University of America (1989-1995)
  • Director, Latin American Institute, The Catholic University of America (1965-1982)
  • Senior Area Advisor for Latin America, U.S. Mission to the United Nations (1987-1988)
  • U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala (1984-1987)
  • U.S. Representative to the Economic and Economic and Social Council of the Organization of American States (1982-1984)
  • Senior Advisor, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, Department of State (1982-1984).

Education


  • Doctor in Law, 1951, University of Havana;
  • Doctor in Political Economy, 1957, University of Madrid
  • Ph.D. in Economics, 1962, Georgetown University

 

Courses


  Foundations of Political and Economic Freedom
  Western Moral Tradition and World Politics

Publications


  Constitutional Coups: A Threat to Private Property
  Unity with diversity: The challenge of globalization
  Islam: A threat or a challenge to the Christian West

Books


  Natural Law: The Foundation of an Orderly Economic System

Expert Areas

  • Economics
  • Moral Philosophy
  • Public Diplomacy
  • Western Civilization

Foundations of Political and Economic Freedom

This course examines the political and economic principles that result ultimately in an open, liberal democracy and their applicability to non-democratic cultures. The course systematically examines the principles underlying liberal democracy as developed in the West beginning with the concepts of human nature and human freedom.

Principal Professor

  Alberto M. Piedra

Western Moral Tradition and World Politics

The course will stress the role of ethics and natural law within the context of statecraft.  It will examine the use of moral reasoning and prudence in helping to achieve the twin goals of an ethical foreign policy and the protection of the national interest.  Both of these goals will be reviewed in the light of Western moral tradition; a tradition that, through the years, has historically guided the various aspects of statecraft.  

Principal Professor

  Alberto M. Piedra

  Joseph R. Wood

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