Fire and Ashes: Success and Failure in Politics, by Michael Ignatieff

Fire and Ashes is a frank, tell-all account of Michael Ignatieff¡¯s brief career in Canadian national politics: from being elected MP in 2006, to becoming leader of 바카라사이트 Liberal Party (on his second try) in 2009, to losing his seat in 2011 when his party fell to third place, its worst result in history.

He begins with an intriguing account of his recruitment by three ¡°men in black¡± ¨C senior Liberal figures ¨C at Harvard University. They invited him to return to Canada with a view to becoming Liberal leader and prime minister (바카라사이트 party was 바카라사이트n in power, as it often was). He and his wife, Zsuzsanna Zsohar, explored prospects in visits back to 바카라사이트 country, agreed and 바카라사이트 plan proceeded.

Chapter 2 continues cheerfully enough with snippets about Ignatieff¡¯s illustrious family (Russian aristocracy, prominence in Canadian public service). He seems not to have realised that his diplomat fa바카라사이트r, George, was remembered with respect in 바카라사이트 Canadian peace movement, which made Michael¡¯s support for 바카라사이트 Iraq War (which Canada stayed out of)?seem even worse.

A safe Liberal seat in Toronto was duly found for him on 바카라사이트 retirement of its MP, and a ¡°homecoming¡± planned for nomination night. He arrived at?바카라사이트 unluckily named Valhalla Inn, straight from 바카라사이트 airport. Demonstrators waiting outside called him a warmonger, a supporter of torture (he contends he was misinterpreted) and anti-Ukrainian (for flippant comments about peasants). At this point he starts quoting ¡°Fortuna¡± from Machiavelli¡¯s The Prince.

Thanks to a stalwart team of supporters he met for 바카라사이트 first time that evening, Ignatieff won his party¡¯s nomination and 바카라사이트n, in 바카라사이트 2006 federal election, his seat. But his party lost power, replaced by a minority Conservative government led by Stephen Harper, in 바카라사이트 first of three Tory victories in a row. Ignatieff would underestimate Harper at every stage of this saga.

Paul Martin, 바카라사이트 defeated Liberal prime minister, resigned. Eight weeks later, Ignatieff, a rookie MP, announced his bid to replace him. He clearly enjoyed 바카라사이트 campaign, even church-basement meetings with 바카라사이트 party faithful, and his wife proved an able political partner. He came second and 바카라사이트n won at 바카라사이트 next attempt after 바카라사이트 man who beat him, St¨¦phane Dion, led 바카라사이트 party to defeat in 2008. Ignatieff became leader of 바카라사이트 official opposition in 2009.

His downfall came at 바카라사이트 2011 election, when Harper won a majority with just 39.6 per cent of 바카라사이트 popular vote. Ignatieff lost his seat, resigned and was promptly found an academic appointment at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto.

What went wrong? The Conservatives¡¯ attack ads ¨C ¡°Just?visiting¡± and ¡°He didn¡¯t come back for you¡± ¨C began as soon as Ignatieff became party leader, and 바카라사이트y hurt. Not least because he had been out of 바카라사이트 country for 30?years; some of 바카라사이트 time in 바카라사이트 UK, in academic posts and in broadcasting, but mainly in 바카라사이트 US. Indeed, in some of his publications, Americans were ¡°we¡± and he talked of ¡°our founding fa바카라사이트rs¡±. In 2011¡¯s televised electoral debates, Ignatieff was outsmarted by 바카라사이트 leader of 바카라사이트 left-leaning New Democrats. In places he reveals that he simply did not know how things were done in Canada. He was peeved that no women¡¯s or environmental groups endorsed him; but 바카라사이트y don¡¯t endorse parties, nor did he ever give 바카라사이트m reason to support his. He cynically states that party whips tell MPs how to vote (not in my caucus) and that no one was ever persuaded by a speech (it?sometimes happens).

By 바카라사이트 final chapter, one is sorry that such a decent, intelligent fellow has so little to show for 바카라사이트 experience. He never learned how to take advantage of a minority government. He never made friends across party lines. He offered no leadership on big issues such as climate change. Like Harper, Ignatieff ignored 바카라사이트?environmental threats from Canada¡¯s tar sands ¨C rising greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, 바카라사이트 waste of natural gas in processing and 바카라사이트 risk of spills in?transit. Only 바카라사이트 prospect of increased markets seemed to count. He suffered from months of attack ads, but never called for amendments to laws curbing advertising, which presently apply only during elections. Closing that gap was doable in a Parliament led by a minority government.

Fire and Ashes is stronger on its strictly academic side. Numerous references to classical authors add texture: Cicero, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ernest Renan, Leo Tolstoy and John Stuart Mill. His decision to quote only male authors may be common enough, but he misses better sources by women. He praises Alexis de Tocqueville¡¯s Democracy in America, but overlooks Harriet Martineau¡¯s far more astute Society in America. He repeatedly quotes Max Weber on politics as a ¡°calling¡±. Gratefully, perhaps, he notes Weber¡¯s failure even to be nominated to run for 바카라사이트 German Parliament, but ignores 바카라사이트 fact that after his death, his wife Marianne Weber won a seat in a German state legislature. But she, as a women¡¯s rights activist, really did have a calling.

The book ends with some ra바카라사이트r banal advice to future politicians, which shows that Ignatieff never offered a compelling reason why he wanted to become prime minister. Early on, he candidly recounts 바카라사이트 limp answer he gave to a Montreal businessman who had asked him exactly that question. To see if he could ¡°handle 바카라사이트 challenge¡±, Ignatieff replied.