Emancipatory change relies not only on a critique of the present, the status quo, but also on the hope that an alternative future is possible. A future that is not only different, but better than the present. Yet, hope itself is a contested concept: Is it an essential catalyst for action or does it risk leading to complacency? In this course, we will critically examine the relationship between hope and progress, questioning whether progress is necessary for envisioning social transformation. We will explore how hope has functioned as a political force and as a conceptual framework for imagining emancipatory action, considering both its mobilizing potential and its ideological pitfalls.

By engaging with key debates on modernity, utopianism, temporality, and emancipation, students will reflect on how ideas of progress and hope shape political struggles and social movements. Is hope necessary for radical change or can change emerge even in the absence of hope? How do different traditions conceptualize progress—as a linear process, a dialectical struggle, or an open-ended horizon? Through critical engagement with these questions, students will develop their own perspectives on the possibilities and limits of social transformation.

Coordinator

Annemarije Hagen

Timetable

All lectures will take place on-campus and we assume you can be physically present during the scheduled hours. You can find the timetable on Datanose.

Registration

Registration is possible for students participating in an Honours programme. The registration period for the Honours courses will be from June 6, 10:00 am to June 10, 11.59 pm. You can register through the online registration form that will appear on Honoursmodules IIS. (registration is NOT through SIS)

Please note: Placement is not guaranteed if you register after June 10, so make sure you register on time. You will hear which course(s) you are registered for before the end of June. 

For questions about registration, please contact us at: honours-iis@uva.nl.