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Douglas Copland: Scholar, Economist, Diplomat

15 Jan 2016
Reviewed by Mike Fogarty

Despite being commemorated by several eponymous educational buildings, Sir Douglas Berry Copland (1894-1971) is not well known in Australian history so this fine book corrects an imbalance. Marjorie Harper has written a serious book about a serious figure who gave much to his adopted land. As well as his contribution as an academic and to the national debate on economics, this portrait also focuses on his substantial diplomatic career, for which he is equally known.

The path of Douglas Copland’s contribution as a public intellectual can be seen from his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry. Born in New Zealand, the lucky thirteenth of sixteen children to their Scottish-born Presbyterian parents, Douglas Copland completed his initial tertiary education at the University of New Zealand. On graduation, being medically unfit to enlist in his nation’s Expeditionary Force in World War I, he settled in Australia at the University of Tasmania in 1917. Failing to gain a suitable academic post in New Zealand, he chose to remain and pursue a career in Australia.

By 1924, he had joined the University of Melbourne in the newly created faculty of commerce, a position which he was to occupy for twenty years, including a period from 1930 as the dean of the economics school. Not content to merely teach or administer, Copland became a policy activist and contributed to the national debate on economics. Increasingly, governments sought his sound policy advice and he wrote several influential study reports on the economic, financial and industry sectors. He often travelled and represented Australia at high-level conferences. A CMG was awarded to him in 1933. He was granted knighthood in 1950.

In 1946, Copland was appointed Australian minister to China, during a time in which a contested country was convulsed with revolution. His staff included the late Barry Hall (1921-2013). Returning to Australia, in 1948, from his experiences, Copland was disillusioned with the Nationalists and, to his credit, he felt Australia had missed a significant opportunity in not officially recognizing the new Communist government in China, when it emerged in 1949. Britain had downgraded ties with China (yet still perated a mission) whereas it took Australia until 1973 to re-open full diplomatic ties with China. Australia had, however, managed to trade with China, without recognition.

Sir Douglas was the founding Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, in the immediate post-war period (1948). It was not a happy time for him as he struggled to gain the necessary support, despite the lofty rhetoric behind its creation. Being appointed as the Australian High Commissioner to Canada (1953-1957) was a welcome respite and reward for this high-achiever whose characteristic traits resembled that of the modern-day energetic bunny. An inordinate work load, not helped by his willingness to tackle myriad roles, was not conducive to good health. He became a popular envoy and forged strong ties with a distant commonwealth country. He discharged his remorseless duties to represent Australia on high tables at global conferences. Ever restless, he returned to Australia after four years to seek other exacting jobs. More good work was done as the inaugural head of the Australian Administrative Staff College, at Mount Eliza, Victoria.

On the completion of his tenure, in 1960, Sir Douglas withstood a welter of demanding responsibilities. His salaried days behind him, Sir Douglas was still courted by private industry and he advised Canberra whenever his professional views were sought.

The author has achieved her own success, beyond being an academic writing about another academic. This book has legs and deserves respect as a portrait of a remarkable Australian, including his personal and family life. Copland is handsomely published with good quality paper, well-laid out with an agreeable font size and text styles. It is heavy duty in the sense that it is written with the scholarly apparatus Douglas Copland might have expected. The author’s subject would have been pleased with it. This is a wonderful book.

Marjorie Harper, Douglas Copland: Scholar, Economist, Diplomat, Miegunyah Press, an imprint of Melbourne University Publishing, South Carlton, 2013.

Mike Fogarty is a former officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who served in Singapore and Hanoi.