Hope is a Tool, Not Just Optimism, Says Political Psychologist
Political psychologist Dr. Oded Adomi Lishm is challenging conventional notions of hope with his new book, "The Hope Revolution." Lishm argues that hope is not merely passive optimism but an active mechanism, a tool that can drive political movements and sustain struggles, even for destructive ideologies. He distinguishes between optimism, which is an assessment of favorable outcomes, and hope, which requires commitment and action even when circumstances are dire.
Lishm criticizes the liberal camp for becoming overly specialized in identifying and documenting disasters, often at the expense of creating viable alternatives. He suggests that a political strategy relying solely on negative emotions like anger and fear is unsustainable and ultimately demotivating. Instead, he advocates for a more proactive approach that focuses on what people want to move towards, not just what they want to move away from.
His research, conducted at the International Center for the Study of Hope at the Hebrew University, explores the dynamics of hope, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lishm's model breaks down "hope for peace" into feasibility and yearning. He observes a decline in yearning for peace among Israelis, arguing that the focus has shifted from demonstrating possibility to neglecting the desire for peace itself. Conversely, Palestinians, under occupation, exhibit higher yearning, driven by the need for a solution.
Lishm proposes that successful political movements, like the LGBTQ+ community's fight for pride, harness both positive and negative emotions. He uses the hostage rescue efforts as an example, highlighting the need for both community-building spaces and disruptive actions to create political leverage. He concludes that the right has succeeded in narrowing the public's vision of possible futures, leading to a tragic prioritization of land over life, and calls for a renewed focus on making peace and partnership desirable aspirations.
