In this episode, Torrin Wilkins speaks to Michael Ignatieff, who is the former Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and a professor of history at Central European University.
Their discussion covered his leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada as a centrist and moderate, the nature of centrism, and the challenges facing modern liberal democracy. They looked at the future of centrist and liberal politics in Canada, the UK, and across liberal democracies.
Michael reflected on his 2011 election defeat, the pressures of campaigning from the political centre, and the difficulty of campaigning in an election with two strong contenders on the left and right of politics. The conversation also looked at how figures such as Rob Jetten and Mark Carney have been successful in creating bold proposals whilst standing on a centrist platform.
They also look at the deeper structural problems affecting liberal democracy, including the rise of populism and the failures of over-centralisation. Michael argues that centrists must confront bureaucratic inefficiencies and address legitimacy deficits caused by rapid social change.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
