Quote by: Michael Ignatieff

The legitimacy of coercive acts in a democracy arises from the process by which they are justified and by the degree to which we regard decisions as rational. If the justifications proceed properly, through recognized public institutions, and if they make sense to us, they are legitimate.


Share this:  

Author Bio


  • NameMichael Ignatieff
  • Descriptionprofessor at Harvard Kennedy School and former Canadian politician
  • BornMay 12, 1947
  • CountryCanada
  • ProfessionJournalist; Historian; Author; Politician; Novelist; Philosopher
  • AwardsCanada India Foundation ("CIF") Chanchlani Global Indian Award; Hannah Arendt Prize