(Counter)productive hope: Scrutinising the role of hope in sustainability

Abstract

Today, we witness a constant search for hope amidst global struggles. In the face of uncertainty and unpredictability, hope appears as a vehicle for building a better tomorrow. Especially in the context of global sustainability discussions, hope has been appealing; it has been seen as a forward-taking and action-generating force. Hope has also gained increasing interest in social scientific scholarship aiming to understand our sustainability challenges and the future of humanity, among other questions. Drawing on the scholarly discussions, this paper critically probes the links between sustainability and hope. It asks, to what extent can the cultivation of hope, aimed at building sustainable futures, be counterproductive? By focusing on two aspects of hope, namely temporality and (in)action, the paper brings forth the multifaceted nature of hope. This equivocality characterises hope and, as such, makes it utilisable for various ends. Hope, per se, can turn out to be harmful by preventing transformation or by bypassing the present sustainability concerns.