Diplomatic Circles

Political appointments to diplomatic postings are mostly a bad idea

In the worst-case scenarios, the presence of a political appointee leaves scars: relations with the host country decline, staff leave, and trade progress is lost.

In larger missions, political appointees can be disastrous for foreign relations. The choice of two Sinophiles, John McCallum and Dominic Barton, was the wrong move in an increasingly intolerant China, writes Andrew Caddell.The Hill Times file photograph and photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY ANDREW CADDELL

March 24, 2021

MONTREAL—As rumours of a pending federal election swirl, the “posting season” approaches for diplomats. This is the time assignments abroad are determined by senior managers at Global Affairs Canada, to then be ratified by foreign capitals. Unfortunately, the prospect of an election may have ...

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