Roger Partridge: An Open Society Requires Constant Vigilance

Who is responsible for defending liberal democracy when its norms come under attack? Karl Popper, writing as fascist armies swept Europe, understood this was not an abstract question. Popper championed societies that were fundamentally “open” – sustained by critical inquiry and peaceful disagreement, rather than imposed unity. But Popper grasped a paradox: openness could only survive if actively defended against those who would exploit its openness to destroy it.