The anatomy of hope

Reclaiming the future in an age of uncertainty

The year 2025, which also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, will be remembered for a profound shift in the global order, where democratic backsliding and geopolitical fragmentation have accelerated in ways that once seemed unthinkable. Across Europe, ideologies once considered marginal have now cemented themselves at the center of political institutions. Merely weeks into his administration, President Trump has cast aside decades of painstakingly negotiated accords — NATO, the UN, USAID, WHO — foundational pillars of the postwar world order. These are being called into question or abandoned unilaterally, replaced by transactional “deals” and a strategy of “flooding the zone,” which supplants diplomacy, decency, and respect for international rules. As the old debate over interests versus values resurfaces, Europe finds itself forced to reckon with the threats posed by leaders like Putin and, increasingly, Trump. In this climate, Europe can no longer afford complacency; it must, however reluctantly, begin to act like a power in its own right.

Globally, we no longer have a series of isolated crises but a systematic realignment of the world’s democratic landscape, where long-standing alliances are fraying, and the international order is recalibrating to adjust to a growing coalition of autocratic powers. With economic uncertainties mounting and migration pressures intensifying, public trust in democratic governance is eroding, creating more fertile ground for those who promise stability at the cost of civil liberties.

The consequences of these developments extend far beyond their immediate political implications. The cessation of vital U.S. military support for Ukraine costs human lives and undermines Europe’s security. The withdrawal from multilateral commitments has left development aid programmes in disarray, pushing vulnerable communities into deeper precarity and exacerbating the very conditions that fuel instability and displacement. Meanwhile, as mainstream political discourse normalises the rhetoric of exclusion and division, a new generation is coming of age in a world where democratic principles can no longer be taken for granted. The question we have now is not whether these shifts will have lasting effects, but rather how societies — and especially Europe — will respond: whether through passive resignation, clinging to the illusion of normalcy, or through a more active recognition of the crisis at hand. The fundamental challenge is not just resisting individual authoritarian moves but understanding how they interconnect, reinforcing one another in ways that may only become fully apparent in hindsight.

At this moment of historic uncertainty, we’ve chosen to centre NECE Festival 2025 on the theme of hope — not as passive optimism, but as a commitment to action that empowers individuals and communities to shape the future. Hope, in this sense, is a skill we can cultivate with the conscious intent of countering cynicism, disengagement, and fear with a renewed sense of purpose.

At a time when democratic values are under strain, fostering resilience means strengthening our collective capacity to adapt, to reimagine, and to rebuild. With the help of renowned experts, this year’s festival will explore how hope can become an integral part of civic education as a practice grounded in critical thinking, solidarity, and action. Through discussions, workshops, and insights from leading thinkers, we will examine strategies for sustaining engagement in the face of disillusionment, training our imaginations to envision futures beyond crisis, and developing the skills needed to create them.

During the festival, we intend to focus on the following pillars of hope:

1. Hope as resilience – hope’s role in maintaining healthy mindsets and communities, as well as healing and rebuilding after adversity, helping people and communities recover, persist, and overcome challenges.
2. Hope as a collective and unifying force – reframing hope as a shared belief in solidarity and justice, co-created within intergenerational and interdependent communities, while fostering cooperation and bridging divides in times of polarisation.
3. Hope as a force for action – hope as a driver of innovation and a catalyst for mobilising movements by transforming uncertainty into possibility and inspiring change even in the face of political inertia.
4. Hope as a moral foundation – rooted in values like justice, equality, and compassion, hope guides communities toward a better, more ethical future.

We will delve into the science of hope and learn from hope-based strategic approaches that have proven effective in empowering communities to challenge the status quo and embrace transformation.

Central to the hope-based ideology is the way we communicate. When we only see the world’s problems through the negative news we are bombarded with every single day, it’s easy to feel powerless. Hope isn’t about ignoring reality — it’s about seeing what’s possible. If we shift the way we communicate, from highlighting crises to showing solutions, we give people something to strive for. And when people see a way forward, they are far more likely to take action. Civic educators play a crucial role in this shift.

The festival will take place in Oslo, Norway, home of the Nobel Peace Prize and a leader in sustainable development, offering a powerful platform to explore the concept of hope as a driver in civic education. The festival will provide space to brainstorm and identify pathways through which active hope and imagination can positively impact our approach to global instability, enabling us to shift divisive narratives and foster collective wellbeing.

Stay informed about the festival’s programme and speakers here. Registration will open soon.