The Age of Fallibility: Consequences of the War on Terror

Overview
George Soros offers a trenchant critique of post-9/11 policy choices and their wider consequences, arguing that the global response to terrorism has often produced the opposite of its intended effects. He frames the era as one of "fallibility," where hubristic assumptions, faulty intelligence, and a failure to account for unintended outcomes lead to strategic and moral blunders. The essays examine how fear-driven policy undermines both security and the democratic values it claims to protect.
Soros stitches together political analysis, economic insight, and normative argument, moving from specific mistakes, such as the invasion of Iraq and the neglect of international law, to broader patterns that threaten open societies and global stability. The work blends personal conviction with institutional critique, calling attention to the interplay between ideas, power, and practical consequences.

Fallibility and Reflexivity
A central theme is human fallibility: decision makers operate with incomplete knowledge and are prone to self-reinforcing errors. Soros draws on his theory of reflexivity to show how beliefs can alter realities and thereby validate the original error, producing feedback loops that compound mistaken policies. This philosophical lens underpins his insistence on humility, transparency, and mechanisms for correction.
The claim is not merely epistemological but political. Policies crafted without skepticism or effective oversight become entrenched, and the refusal to accept mistakes prevents course correction. That dynamic, Soros warns, is especially dangerous when invoked to justify extraordinary measures in the name of security.

Political and Civil Consequences
Soros details how the global war on terror has corroded civil liberties and democratic norms. He highlights practices such as indefinite detention, extraordinary rendition, torture, and expansive surveillance as examples of rights sacrificed for a contested notion of safety. These measures, he argues, delegitimize the moral authority of democracies and fuel resentment that can exacerbate radicalization.
Beyond domestic erosion, there is a diplomatic cost. Unilateral actions and the disregard for international institutions weaken alliances and diminish the ability to build cooperative responses to transnational threats. The loss of soft power and credibility, Soros contends, makes long-term security more elusive.

Economic and Global Impacts
The essays link security policy to economic consequences, noting how war spending, deficits, and unstable markets interact with geopolitical uncertainty. Soros warns that financial instability is intertwined with political instability: resources diverted to protracted conflicts reduce capacity for domestic investment and global cooperation. Moreover, closed or protectionist responses to security anxieties can undermine the open international economic order.
Soros also examines the broader geopolitical landscape, critiquing heavy-handed approaches that alienate potential partners and strengthen authoritarian actors. He underscores the need to manage relations with rising powers through dialogue and institutions rather than confrontation that risks escalation.

Policy Prescriptions
The remedy Soros proposes centers on restoring openness, accountability, and multilateral engagement. He urges withdrawal from ill-conceived military occupations, strict adherence to the rule of law, reform of intelligence and oversight mechanisms, and renewal of international institutions. Emphasis falls on diplomacy, targeted law enforcement, and cooperation that address root causes without sacrificing civil liberties.
Economic measures include more responsible budgeting, support for development that reduces grievances, and financial regulation to curb instability. Soros calls for policies that balance legitimate security needs with the preservation of democratic norms, arguing that lasting safety requires the very openness and rights that have been under threat.

Tone and Persuasion
Analytic yet passionate, the essays blend moral urgency with empirical critique. Soros writes as both financier and public intellectual, leveraging a global vantage point to connect policy choices with cascading consequences. The work challenges readers to rethink assumptions about security, power, and the institutional safeguards needed to prevent the next cascade of mistakes.