Ordering hope: Reimagining the future of citizenship
A new IGDC working paper from IGDC Co-Director Dr Indrajit Roy
In a world facing a multitude of challenges it is easy to lose sight of the possibilities offered by hope, however this Working Paper looks at the relational and institutional understanding of hope. The paper goes on to explore the concept of ‘realist hope’ which, whilst recognising the fragility of social structures also offers opportunities for reimagining order.
“Realist hope allows us to salvage what we can from the remains of the past and join them with new ideas and materials to build an alternate world.” Dr Indrajit Roy
Could this lead to the redressal of power imbalances? Realist hope remains unwavering in its struggle to disrupt the status quo.
“The hopeful order to emerge through this struggle promises to nurture the equitable balance of power imagined by the practitioners of realist hope. The realisation of that promise requires and facilitates broadening and deepening the practice of hope.” Dr Indrajit Roy
Read ‘Ordering Hope’ in our IGDC Working Papers
The paper also explores various series of conversations around hopeful citizenship and ordering hope.
Horizons of Hope
Preliminary insights from the Citizenship Futures project inspired a panel for the 2021 York Festival of Ideas titled Horizons of Hope Part 1. Hosted by academic and political journalist Remi Adekoya, the panellists each offered insights into the ways in which collective hopes for a better future prompt social change.
Horizons of Hope Part 1
Building on these insights, a follow up panel was held at the 2021 York Festival of Social Sciences, titled Horizons of Hope Part 2. Melissa Williams hosted the panel who reflected on their personal and professional experiences to consider the ways in which hope endures despite social difficulties. This drew on examples that ranged from supporting farmers to improve their incomes, blood donation campaigns, young people’s participation in public life, navigating disability and institutional racism.
Interdisciplinary Hope Consortium
This interdisciplinary York Hope Consortium brought together colleagues from Politics, English and Comparative Literature, and History and their perspectives on hope. The conversations in the consortium were organised along three interrelated themes: (i) History, health, and hope; (ii) Imagining hope; and (iii) Hope and social change.
Find out more about these and many other conversations around hope in the Working Paper.
Further work on Hope
The working paper also introduces a number of recent publications on the subject of Hope:
- Southern Multilateralism: India's engagement with Africa and the emergence of a multiplex world order
- Dignified development: democratic deepening in an Indian state
- Feeling like a citizen: hope amid social exclusion in São Paulo during the Covid-19 pandemics
IGDC Working Papers
Ordering Hope is one from a range of IGDC working papers and briefings collectively covering a wide range of subject matter, other titles in the series include:
- (Un)Sustainable Lives
- Divided in Leaving Together: The resettlement of Afghan locally employed staff
- Guide to good practice for inclusive research in global development