Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
The organizers of Spain’s Princess Of Asturias Awards awarded Michael Ignatieff, a Canadian writer and historian in the field of social sciences the award.
MADRID – The prize organizers announced Wednesday that Canadian historian and author Michael Ignatieff won Spain’s Princess Of Asturias Award in Social Sciences for “critical reflections” on major conflicts in our time.
Ignatieff, 77, has written more than 20 books on topics such as human rights, foreign policies, economics and nationalism. The jury described him as “an essential guide to help navigate the current political climate, which is characterized by wars, political polarization, and threats to liberty.”
He has published “The Needs of Strangers”, “Isaiah Berlin, A Life”, and “Human Rights as Politics & Idolatry”, among others. Numerous articles and columns have been published by him.
Ignatieff taught and conducted research at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Harvard University, Cambridge University, and Oxford University. He was also the rector of Central European University.
In 2009, he was elected president of the Liberal Party in Canada and led the opposition in Parliament.
The Princess of Asturias Award, which is worth 50,000 euros ($54,000), is one of eight awards that the foundation gives out each year. These include prizes in the areas of communication, sports, the arts and the sciences.
Helene Carrere d’Encausse, a French historian, won the prize for social sciences last year.
Each fall, the awards ceremony is presided by Spain’s princess Leonor in Oviedo.