Open Society Fellowship - Public Intellectuals in Seven Global Cities

The role of public intellectuals is more critical than ever, as we are living through a period marked by deep polarization, democratic backsliding, rising authoritarianism, rapid technological disruption, climate crises, and widespread disinformation. 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.

This will be the second convening of the Open Society Fellows, following on from the meeting in Bangkok in May, 2025. This program will bring together all of the Fellows of the Seven Cities Fellowship Program, a dynamic cohort of thought leaders whose work is shaping public discourse across diverse urban landscapes.

Date

Oct 19 - Oct 23, 2025

Session no.

S916-01

Location

Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg, Austria

Contact

Dominic Regester

Director, Education

Nancy Smith

Director of Development and Philanthropy

Edlira Kastrati

Program Manager, Peace and Justice

Content overview

Program Information Salzburg Global Staff OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS STAFF Participants Partner

Program Information

Program Goals

The goals of this program are consistent with those of the wider goals of the Open Society Fellowship:

To support public intellectuals and provide new audiences and networks for their work.
To help elevate new voices to take part in global conversations on the most pressing issues of our time – from human rights and social justice to climate change and inequality
To offer a space for Fellows to discuss their ongoing projects
To explore the potential for new collaborations and ideas to emerge from the work of the Open Society Fellowship program.

The program will foster critical dialogue, cross-regional collaboration, and shared strategies among fellows from the seven cities, each confronting complex social, political, and cultural challenges. By creating space for intellectual exchange and mutual learning, the program will deepen the collective impact of the fellowship and strengthen the global network of public intellectuals.

Timeline and Format

Held over 3.5 days at Salzburg Global and our home, Schloss Leopoldskron, this highly interactive program will build on the work started at the Bangkok Fellowship meeting in May and will likely consist of a mix of interactive workshops and peer-learning sessions, case studies and roundtables, discussions, small group dialogues, and informal debates. Emphasis will be placed on open and off-the-record exchange of views and ideas. Chatham House rule applies.

The program will begin at 16:00 on Sunday 19 October. Thursday 23 October is for departures only. The agenda will be co-created with Fellows in the months leading up to the in person program, in line with Salzburg Method which we use in all of our work.

Participant Profile

This program is specifically for the 2025 Open Society Fellows from Beirut, Buenos Aires, Colombo, Dar es-Salaam, Jakarta, Lagos, and Taipei.