For decades, the West celebrated freedom – and neglected security. In the belief that democracy and dialogue would safeguard peace, we dismantled our defenses, outsourced responsibility and dismissed resilience as illiberal. But today’s world – shaken by war, disinformation and geopolitical ambition – demands a new realism. In this talk, I will make the case for a strong, resilient liberalism: one that defends its values with clarity, confidence and courage. Drawing from history, political theory and present-day challenges, I will invite us to rethink our assumptions – and to understand why freedom without security is an illusion. If we want to stay free, we must be willing to defend what makes us free. Katja Gentinetta is a political philosopher. She teaches at the Universities of Zurich and Lucerne and is a member of various boards of trustees and foundations. Katja Gentinetta is a regular columnist and guest on talk shows, giving lectures and interviews in Switzerland and abroad. She is the author and editor of numerous books in social and economic issues. More recently, she has been working intensively on security policy issues, including a study report on Switzerland's future security policy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx