Dialogues in International History

Ari Barbalat

This podcast intends to contribute to public education by offering listeners thorough and serious conversations on topics in international history and the history of international relations. It features interviews with authors of new monographs and recent books by historians and specialists.

Episodes

  1. Patrice Dutil, ed., *Statesmen, Strategists & Diplomats: Canada’s Prime Ministers and the Making of Foreign Policy*. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2023.

    Jun 7

    Patrice Dutil, ed., *Statesmen, Strategists & Diplomats: Canada’s Prime Ministers and the Making of Foreign Policy*. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2023.

    Navigating the realm of foreign policy is a multifaceted challenge. Typically, obstacles and proposed solutions are seen as distinct unless a leader can rally enough support for an idea that promotes cohesion. As the prime minister often puts forth this idea – setting the agenda and evaluating if the timing is right for a viable, effective solution – Canadian foreign policy can be summarized through the actions of these leaders. This monograph explores how prime ministers from Sir John A. Macdonald to Justin Trudeau have shaped foreign policy by manipulating governmental structures, selecting and discarding options, and leaving their imprint on the process. Contributors provide new, sometimes surprising perspectives on a wide range of policy choices – whether to raise or lower departmental budgets, to create or dismantle alliances, to engage in trade relations, and to handle the prime minister’s personal diplomacy – particularly regarding how these choices affected the bureaucracies tasked with implementing foreign policy both diplomatically and militarily. No other publication has undertaken a thorough examination of the crucial role Canadian prime ministers play in crafting foreign policy. This innovative viewpoint is bound to foster a renewed appreciation for the essential personal engagement and insight necessary for a successful strategy in international relations.

    55 min
  2. Mary Cardaras, ed., *Voices of the Lost Children of Greece: Oral Histories of Cold War International Adoption*. London: Anthem Press, 2023.

    Feb 6

    Mary Cardaras, ed., *Voices of the Lost Children of Greece: Oral Histories of Cold War International Adoption*. London: Anthem Press, 2023.

    This book is a compilation of essays from Greek-born adoptees who lived through the 1950s, a time following two wars that devastated the nation. This collection is unique, as it marks the first time this group of adoptees has united to share their personal narratives and express their deeply held emotions. While many adoptees may have similar experiences and share common thoughts regarding their adoptions, their individual stories are remarkably diverse, with some being distressing and others inspiring. The collection aims to illustrate the long-term effects of adoption, regardless of whether children were separated from their parents and homeland as infants or as young children. The book will explore adoption from various disciplinary perspectives, including sociology, psychology, and anthropology. Additionally, it will contextualize these adoptions within a larger historical framework. The work is further enriched by a Foreword from Dr. Andrew Mossin, a Greek-born adoptee, academic, poet, and writer; by Dr. Gonda Van Steen, a distinguished modern Greek scholar, who contributes the first chapter discussing the historical context of such adoptions; and in the final chapter, by Dr. Eirini Papadaki, who has extensively researched the women of Greece and adoption, providing readers with a contemporary evaluation of adoption practices in Greece today.

    1h 3m

About

This podcast intends to contribute to public education by offering listeners thorough and serious conversations on topics in international history and the history of international relations. It features interviews with authors of new monographs and recent books by historians and specialists.