Open Societies Need Open Minds

The advent of twenty-first century has witnessed the rise of populist parties and their governments in the western world. Many argue that their rise is coupled with changing socio-political landscape in terms of rejection of liberal values; inward-looking sentiments vis-à-vis open markets and international cooperation and many others.

Populism means different things to different groups, but all versions share a suspicion of and hostility toward elites, mainstream politics, and established institutions. It sees itself as speaking for the forgotten “ordinary” person and often imagines itself as the voice of genuine patriotism.

No one exemplifies that trend better than U.S. President Donald Trump. ....