Hope

David Chandler is Professor of International Relations, University of Westminster, London, UK. He edits the journal Anthropocenes - Human, Inhuman, Posthuman and writes widely on the subjects of critical theory, the contemporary crisis of governance and race in the Anthropocene.

'Chandler’s Hope is a tour de force in its mapping of contemporary political and social theory. It is an important provocation that carves out lines of hope beyond the world as it exists. Without these, there can only be the violent solace of hope as a feeling, rather than hope as a strategy. This book is essential reading for anyone working in theory today.'Claire Colebrook, Professor of English Literature, Monash University'This concise book offers a much-needed, critical intervention into the ways a whole range of political, community and scholarly projects ‘utilis[e] hope as a remaining resource in the wake of broken worlds’. Chandler brings our attention to under-examined critical ‘engagements with hope’, including those emerging from continental philosophical traditions, black studies, and decolonial approaches, which strive ‘to hold open the future’ and imagine worlds otherwise.'Louiza Odysseos, Professor Emeritus in International Relations in the School of Global Studies, University of Sussex'David Chandler carefully examines the ontologies and meanings of hope. He analyses how hope today has been instrumentalised, often limiting rather than enabling the emergence of alternative futures. Kant’s question, “What may I hope for?” still remains a crucial concern, especially when thinking beyond survivance.'Elena Korosteleva, Professor of Politics and Global Sustainable Development, University of Warwick'This book offers a timely reconsideration of hope, at a time when it seems both more necessary and more difficult than ever. Much more than hoping for rosy futures, the challenging ideas woven through this book are meant to disrupt modernist and normative notions of hope, and bring the discussion about hope to the core problem of its ambiguous ontology.'Noga Glucksam, author of Rewilding Peace, Department of Political Science, University College London

• Part I. Re-Enchanting the Human 1. Libidinal Drives 2. Freedom Dreams Part II. Survivance 3. Worlding 4. Hope against Hope