Political Hope and Democracy

Political hope is essential to democracies because it plays a motivating role in allowing citizens to engage in politics and try to achieve political goals. Since democracy's legitimacy and success rely on citizen participation, political hope helps mobilize citizens. It also helps cultivate desirable attributes like respect and civic friendship, fostering cooperation. Furthermore, it is a precondition for pushing for change.

Political hope, or its absence, intersects with identity as its existence and nature can be based on an individual's or group's identity. Some scholars argue that certain forms of political hope might preserve structures that sustain suffering for specific identity groups. Factors like privilege and oppression structure the kind of political hope available, which can influence perceptions of issues (like climate change impact based on affluence) and consequently affect the likelihood of political participation.