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.