Hope as a political tool in a time of democratic crisis

How can democracy be defended when trust in it is faltering? A new study shows how the Biden administration used hope as a political tool to legitimise its foreign policy vision of democracy versus autocracy.

In the article, Sara Wissén, doctoral student in political science at the Swedish Defence University, analyses how the Biden administration (2021–2025) formulated its foreign policy vision during a period marked by both international uncertainty and criticism of American democracy. The findings show that the administration based much of its message on hope for the future of democracy.

“Hope is often dismissed as naive or apolitical, but the study shows that it can be an important political tool, particularly in strategic narratives”, she says.

A different story about democracy

Unlike previous US administrations, which have often described the United States more confidently as democracy’s natural leader and role model, the Biden administration presented a more uncertain picture. Democracy was described as fragile and imperfect, but at the same time worth defending.

“What is interesting is that the administration does not try to gloss over democracy’s problems. Instead, it acknowledges the shortcomings and even highlights them, while also seeking to inspire confidence in the future”, says Sara Wissén.

Analysis of speeches and strategy documents

The study is based on a narrative analysis of strategic documents from the White House, the Department of Defense and the State Department, as well as speeches by key figures in the US administration, combined with theories of democratic hope from philosophy and political theory.

The research framework identifies four central elements of democratic hope:

• acknowledging democracy’s shortcomings while still holding on to it
  • viewing democracy as a shared project
  • trusting that democratic institutions can change and improve
  • being able to imagine a better democratic future

Raises questions about the limits of hope

The fact that Joe Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, subsequently lost the election also raises questions about how far hopeful narratives can go when people feel that the political system is not working.

“This question is not unique to the United States. Democracies in many parts of the world face similar challenges: how to tell the story of democracy’s value when trust is declining and the world order is changing”, says Sara Wissén.