Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Campbell confirmed as next envoy to U.K., Davidson appointed ambassador to Afghanistan

OTTAWA — Former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell is headed for a plum diplomatic post in the United Kingdom and, in a somewhat unusual move, Canada's current ambassador to Syria will be posted to Afghanistan.

The government confirmed the appointments on Monday along with nine other new diplomatic postings.

The appointment of Campbell as high commissioner to the U.K. comes after a lengthy political career, including nine years as Liberal premier of B.C. — until his retirement this year — and three terms as mayor of Vancouver.

The diplomatic post has historically oscillated between career politicians and diplomats and is considered by experts to be a symbolically important position.

Along with Campbell, Glenn V. Davidson was officially appointed Canada's new ambassador to Afghanistan. Davidson is currently Canada's ambassador to Syria — a post he has held since 2008.

"One might almost say he is jumping from the fire into the frying pan," Fen Hampson, director of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, told Postmedia News in an email.

"This kind of cross appointment from one conflict zone to another — which is somewhat unusual but not unprecedented — is obvious testimony to (Davidson's) diplomatic skills," Hampson said.

Canada's role in Afghanistan is changing but there is still a focus on diplomacy and development, Hampson said.

"Davidson knows the region well and is an experienced diplomat and negotiator," Hampson said.

A career naval officer, Davidson served 35 years in the navy, retiring as a vice-admiral in 2008. Davidson commanded Canada's Atlantic fleet, skippered warships in the Pacific and at one time was in charge of personnel for the entire Canadian Forces.

His international experience includes a post as Canadian Forces attache in Tokyo and as representative to NATO's military committee in Brussels.

"He's done an incredibly good job in an incredibly difficult situation on the ground in Damascus," Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Monday, commenting on Davidson's work as ambassador to Syria. Baird said the posting in Syria will serve as good experience for Afghanistan.

Davidson studied English at the University of King's College in Halifax and holds a doctor of civil law degree from the same university. He is married with one daughter.

The government has also confirmed the appointment of Yves Brodeur as ambassador to NATO in Brussels, Guillermo Rishchynski as ambassador to the UN in New York City and Elissa Golberg as ambassador to the UN in Geneva.

Origin
Source: the Province  

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