MADRID (AP) 鈥� Canadian historian and writer Michael Ignatieff has won Spain鈥檚 Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences for his 鈥渃ritical reflections on the major conflicts of our time,鈥� prize organizers said Wednesday.
With more than 20 books that range from human rights, foreign policy, economics, and nationalism, among other topics, the 77-year-old Ignatieff has become, in the jury鈥檚 words, "an essential reference to navigate our current times of war, political polarization and threats to freedom.鈥�
His titles include 鈥淭he Needs of Strangers鈥� (1984), 鈥淚saiah Berlin: A Life鈥� (1998), and 鈥淗uman Rights as Politics and Idolatry鈥� (2001). He also has published numerous articles and opinion columns.
Ignatieff has taught and researched at many of the world鈥檚 leading universities, including Harvard, Cambridge and Oxford, and was rector of the Central European University.
He was also heavily involved in Canadian politics, rising to its Liberal Party's presidency in 2009 and leading the opposition in parliament.
The 50,000-euro ($54,000) Princess of Asturias Award is one of eight prizes covering areas including the arts, communication, science and sports that are handed out annually by the foundation.
French historian H茅l猫ne Carr猫re d鈥橢ncausse won last year鈥檚 prize for the social sciences.
The awards ceremony presided over by Spain's Princess Leonor takes place each fall in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo.
The Associated Press
