The Rights Revolution

Based on the 2000 CBC Massey Lectures, 'The Rights Revolution' explores how the language of rights has become the primary global discourse for the public good since the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Michael Ignatieff uses the Canadian experience as a primary case study—examining the struggles for Aboriginal rights, the preservation of linguistic heritage, and the recognition of same-sex marriage—to probe the tensions between individual freedom and collective identity. He confronts difficult questions regarding whether the expansion of individual rights jeopardizes community stability and personal responsibility. Ultimately, Ignatieff defends the rights revolution, arguing that it has strengthened democracy by fostering a culture of political deliberation, compromise, and legal protection for the vulnerable.

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