Open Society Fellows gathered at Salzburg Global to bridge divides, cut through complexity, and engage in informed debate
The role of public intellectuals is more critical than ever, as we are living through a period marked by deep polarization, widespread disinformation, democratic backsliding, rising authoritarianism, rapid technological advancements, and climate crises. As societies face these intersecting challenges, public intellectuals can help us make sense of complexity, challenge dominant narratives, and imagine more just and inclusive futures. Their ability to bridge knowledge and public discourse, speak truth to power, and foster informed debate makes them essential voices in defending open societies and revitalizing democratic life.
The Open Society Fellowship convened academics, writers, visual artists, lecturers, theater makers, publishers, architects, filmmakers and producers, lawyers, podcasters, journalists, and authors at Salzburg Global - not to reach consensus, but rather to appreciate the complexity of modern issues through dialogue. These Fellows gathered at Salzburg Global from October 19 to 23, 2025 for the "Open Society Fellowship - Public Intellectuals in Seven Global Cities."
Stephen Hubbell, program lead for the Open Society Fellowship, used the word “trust” to characterize the reason that Open Society Foundations decided to bring Fellows to Salzburg Global. He highlighted the testimonials of Salzburg Global Fellows who spoke highly “about the atmosphere that Salzburg [Global] provided [and] about the programming expertise and capacity that is present here.”
Salzburg serves as the second convening place of the Open Society Fellows, following their meeting in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2025. This program brings together Fellows of the Seven Cities Fellowship Program, a dynamic cohort of thought leaders whose work is shaping public discourse across diverse urban landscapes. The fellowship was created to acknowledge that in many parts of the world, especially in the Global South, there are vibrant and potentially groundbreaking conversations taking place among public intellectuals. However, these voices and ideas often don’t receive the global attention they merit. The fellowship’s primary goal is to raise the visibility of these thinkers - some already well established, others emerging - and to bring their perspectives onto the world stage, ensuring their contributions receive the recognition and influence they deserve.
Salzburg Global provides an environment for elevating these voices. Stephen highlighted that the unique convening format of Salzburg Global, called The Salzburg Method, is why they chose to bring Fellows here. He described Salzburg Global as a place "where tough conversations can happen and where breakthroughs are possible, where people who may not see eye to eye, who may not agree on important issues can come together and find a way forward."
He reflected that one of the unique aspects of the session convening at Salzburg Global was the long-table discussion. This was held on topics around supporting open, just, and inclusive societies, ensuring that voices from the Global South are not peripheral but central to global problem-solving.
Speaking about the collaboration with the Open Society Fellowship and potential plans to continue this engagement, Dominic Regester, director of the Salzburg Global Center for Education Transformation, emphasized that “there is a strong moral and philosophical alignment between Salzburg Global and the Open Society Foundations. It was a pleasure to work with the OSF team and the Fellows on this program, and we look forward to exploring what we might be able to do next as partners.”
