"Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely.”
- Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay
From its very beginnings, debate has been inextricably intertwined with the concept of the open society.
In ancient Athens, citizens gathered in forums to discuss and debate the most pressing issues of the
day before casting their votes. Such debates were an integral part of the new form of government Athens
was to bequeath to the world: democracy.
Unlike totalitarian and other undemocratic regimes where a limited set of ideas are imposed as absolute
truths, democratic societies depend upon the free and open exchange of ideas. Indeed, it may be said
that true democracy cannot exist without debate. For democracy to function, the values that debate
encourages - reason, tolerance, the careful weighing of evidence - must be cherished and nurtured. But
even within societies that restrict open discussion, debate can teach young people that no one person
or government possesses the ultimate truth.
Today, from Haiti to Serbia, from The Netherlands to Mongolia and beyond, IDEA debates are gaining
ground as forums for promoting democratic values. And just as Socrates spurred his listeners to examine
their assumptions 2,500 years ago, IDEA is today encouraging students around the world to question,
to listen to each other, and to explore even the most volatile subjects openly and in the spirit
of tolerance and cooperation.
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