Hope Under Oppression

This book explores the nature and essential role of hope in human life under conditions of oppression. It offers a unique evaluative framework for hope that captures its intrinsic value, the rationality and morality of hope, and how we can hope well in the non-ideal world we share. It also shows how faith can help people be resilient in the face of oppression and strengthen hope for the future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Hope is a powerful and resilient force that can sustain us through difficult times. It is a common injunction that we are often told to never give up, particularly in a world that can be frightening, dark, and unjust. But what is hope, and why is it so valuable that we are so often urged to preserve and protect it?

This book explores the nature and essential role of hope in human life under conditions of oppression. Oppression is often a threat and damage to hope, yet many members of oppressed groups, including prominent activists pursuing a more just world, find hope valuable and even essential to their personal and political lives.

Katie Stockdale offers a unique evaluative framework for hope that captures its intrinsic value, the rationality and morality of hope, and ultimately how we can hope well in the non-ideal world we share. She develops an account of the relationship between hope and anger about oppression and argues that when people are angry about oppression, they tend to also harbour hope for repair. When people's hopes for repair are not realized, as is often the case for those who are oppressed, their anger can evolve into bitterness. They feel unresolved anger as a result of losing hope that injustice will be sufficiently acknowledged and addressed.

Fortunately, things do not have to be this way. Even when people may feel that they have lost all hope, faith can help them to be resilient in the face of oppression. They can join with others who share their experiences or commitments for a better world, uniting with them in collective action. By doing so, they can strengthen hope for the future when hope might otherwise be lost.

Ultimately, this work illustrates the crucial value of hope for both individuals and collectives. Hope can inspire us to take action and work towards a more just and equitable world. It can help us to persevere in the face of adversity and to believe that there is a better future waiting for us. By nurturing and protecting hope, we can create a more positive and fulfilling world for ourselves and for generations to come.

Weight: 346g
Dimension: 156 x 236 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197563571