Michael Ignatieff on the Contradictions of Liberal Democracy

From Democracy in Question? by Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

June 25, 2025 · 53 min · Season 10 · Episode 10

About this episode

This episode explores the tensions and contradictions of liberal democracy.

This episode explores the tensions and contradictions of liberal democracy. What are some recent developments regarding opposing dynamics of economic globalization and the political sovereignty of the nation state? And why are universities, which have paved the way for upward mobility in most Western democracies, now under attack? Tune in to hear why there cannot be a free society without free universities.

People in this episode

Host: Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Guest: Michael Ignatieff

Topics covered

liberal democracy
economic globalization
political sovereignty
universities
upward mobility

Keywords

liberal democracy
economic globalization
political sovereignty
universities
upward mobility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

Places: Western democracies