Michael IgnatieffBirth Chart

Michael Ignatieff is a Canadian public intellectual whose career spans academia, writing, and party politics. Educated at and affiliated with prestigious universities, he held posts at Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, and Toronto, and served as rector and president of the Central European University. As an author and essayist, he earned recognition for works on nationalism, human rights, and political ethics, including Blood and Belonging and The Lesser Evil, and received literary and journalism awards. In journalism and broadcasting, he became a familiar figure in the United Kingdom between 1978 and 2000 as a commentator, presenter, and columnist, and produced the documentary series Blood and Belonging for the BBC. His output also includes prizewinning novels and memoirs such as The Russian Album, along with frequent contributions to international outlets. He entered federal Canadian politics in 2006 as a Member of Parliament and served as leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011. After the 2011 electoral defeat he returned to academic life and continued publishing essays on international and Canadian politics. In recognition of his work, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.