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Massey Lectures 2000
The Rights Revolution
by Michael Ignatieff
Since the proclamation of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, rights have become the
dominant language of the public good around the globe.
In Canada, rights have become the trump card in every argument
from family life to Parliament Hill. But the notorious fights
for aboriginal rights and for the linguistic heritage of French-speaking
Canadians have steered Canada into a full-blown rights revolution.
This revolution is not only deeply controversial here, but
is being watched around the world. Are group rights —
to land and language — jeopardizing individual rights?
Has the Charter of Rights empowered ordinary Canadians or
just enriched constitutional lawyers? When everyone asserts
their rights, what happens to responsibilities?
Michael Ignatieff confronts these questions head-on in The
Rights Revolution, defending the supposed individualism
of rights language against all comers.
"The political and social history
of Western society since the French Revolution is the story
of the struggle of all human groups to gain inclusion. It
is only within the lifetime of all of us here that this vast
historical process, begun in the European wars of religion
in the 16th century, has been brought to a successful conclusion
in the rights revolution of the last 40 years.
All of this is so much part of our lived history that we barely
notice its enormous historical significance. We are living
in the first human society actually attempting to create a
political community on the assumption that everyone - literally
everyone - has the right to belong. We are all embarked on
the same perilous adventure, whether we can live with our
differences or die because of them." Michael Ignatieff
Learn more about Michael
Ignatieff
Public Lecture:
The public lecture was webcast live in RealAudio. CLICK
HERE to listen to the lecture, and to see pictures from
the event.
THE RIGHTS REVOLUTION is published by House
of Anansi Press.
BOOKS AND TAPES FOR SALE.
The five broadcast lectures of "The Rights Revolution"
are available as a set of five audio cassetes, at a cost of
$39.95, taxes and shipping included.
The book "The Rights Revolution" is available for
$21, taxes and shipping included.
Both tapes and the book can be ordered from Ideas Transcripts
by sending a cheque or money order to:
Ideas Transcripts
Box 500
Station A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1E6
Telephone orders, please call (416) 205-7367
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