I think no one could have made peace in Bosnia besides Holbrooke. Michael Ignatieff bosniaholbrookemake Change image and share on social
Not even a superpower can hold onto its economic sovereignty if it fails to get its fiscal house in order, and no one needs a well-regulated international economic order more than the United States. Michael Ignatieff economicfailfiscal Change image and share on social
America is exceptional in combining standard great-power realism with extravagant idealism about the country's redemptive role in creating international order. Michael Ignatieff americacombinecountry Change image and share on social
Loving a country is an act of the imagination. Michael Ignatieff actcountryimagination Change image and share on social
Commerce has changed the ethics of citizenship and the incentives for national service. America now buys private contractors - we used to call them mercenaries - to do the country's fighting. Michael Ignatieff americabuycall Change image and share on social
Your generation and mine have had very little real experience; we've been severed from the direct experience of war by some very good things. By the end of the draft, and by the defeat in Vietnam. Michael Ignatieff defeatdirectdraft Change image and share on social
Relying exclusively on air power has limits: planes are effective against fixed strategic targets, like petroleum storage, bridges, and command bunkers; but even then, air power rarely succeeds by itself in destroying a regime's ability to command and control its forces. Michael Ignatieff abilityairbridge share on social
The war waged against terror since September 11 puts a strain on democracy itself, because it is mostly waged in secret, using means that are at the edge of both law and morality. Yet democracies have shown themselves capable of keeping the secret exercise of power under control. Michael Ignatieff capablecontroldemocracy share on social
Democratic constitutions do allow some suspension of rights in states of emergency. Thus rights are not always trumps. But neither is necessity. Even in times of real danger, political authorities have to prove the case that abridgments of rights are justified. Michael Ignatieff abridgmentauthoritycase share on social
Belief in liberal freedom and democracy is always belief in it in a particular place, in a national home with histories that only those who are born in a place or who adopt its citizenship can hope to understand. Michael Ignatieff adoptbearbelief share on social