Calvert, Phil: an assessment of the interaction between Canadian diplomats and the military (March 22, 2019)

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Interviewee: Calvert, Phil

An interview/narrative of Phil Calvert's experiences with the diplomatic service. Interview took place on March 22, 2019 in Victoria, B.C.

ABSTRACT: 0:00—2:55—Biographic details, eduction history, and motivation for joining diplomatic service. 2:57—3:14—Description of language abilities. 3:20—4:47—Chronology of overseas posts and career specialization. 4:48—6:12—Description of how Chinese language ability influenced career. 6:28—9:39—Atlanticism in Canadian foreign policy, and career training. 9:48—11:18 —Language requirement to join diplomatic service. 11:30—12:45—Career specialization and streams. 13:03—16:51—Changing attitudes, and increased interest in Asia throughout career. 17:00—17:18—Description of how the collapse of the Soviet Union affected foreign policy. 17:30—17:59 —Motivation for increased interest in Asia. 18:16—22:02 —Description of Canadian defence policy in Asia. 22:30—23:23—Western interest in China (including US). 23:25—28:14—Description of the how the end of the Cold War changed the thinking of diplomats towards Russia. 28:15—30:16 —Description of how the collapse of USSR affected interaction with China. 30:17—35:46—Reforms in China and Canada’s reaction to 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. 36:57—44:44 —Description of the interaction between diplomats and military personnel. 45:28—47:13—Interaction with other delegations (attachés and diplomats). 47:14—51:10—Cooperation between trade section and defence section in Thailand to sell defence products. 52:12—57:36 —Interaction between military personnel and diplomats (in policy and on operations). 57:37—59:20—Changing attitudes and understanding of the military amongst diplomats. 59:40—1:01:01—Description of the work carried out by attachés in China. 1:01:18—1:02:12 —Addressing lacunas in the literature and recommendation on how the relationship could be improved. 1:01:18—1:07:10—Recommendations on how training and career development could be improved through institutionalization.

Interviewer: McGuire, Stewart H. "Harry"

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 48.4359, -123.35155
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • CP_875
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 22, 2019
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2019. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI

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