My participation at Hope & Resistance (Hopp & Motstånd)

In this series of blog pieces I post my personal reflections on my experience of participating at Hope & Resistance.

The up-coming Hope & Resistance retreat in August this year will be my 7th year in a row participating. Below I have made an attempt to share what it has meant to me and why I come back to the Hope & Resistance society.

The most striking feature with the Hope & Resistance society is the orthodox Gandhian nonviolence philosophy. It has given me hope and faith.

It has totally changed my view on how societies change and which way one ought to conduct political action. It has meant that I have abandoned my previous faith in political advocacy and instrumental actions that aim to “win over” people and manipulate others to think like me. Instead orthodox Gandhian nonviolence offers the concept of performative actions that fulfill their intended goal in themselves. Like we are (or trying to) practicing radical democracy and equality at every moment of the retreat. For me it was a big eye-opener and relief as I have been so disappointed with my previous political engagements in civil society organizations and political parties. That disappointment and frustration had made me politically depressed.

To be in a society where everyone focus on radical change in all parts and for everyone, that creates hope and faith in me and that is life-saving, like giving first-aid to a scared soul that otherwise wants to hide from all the ugliness and suffering of our world. I don’t meant to say it has been ecstasy and a hallelujah-moment, more like having a slow but steady feeling building up, of having steady ground to stand on and from where to look at the world from and having some idea about how to reach it. It’s very much “only” a working frame so I still have to do the heavy lifting of trying things, challenging my fears and do something. So in short, the orthodox Gandhian nonviolence philosophy taught and practiced at Hopp & Motstånd has given me a roadmap to orient myself with and alongside that faith and hope in us. To come back to Hope & Resistance means having the time and the social space to intensify our practice and reflect together. That is all very well and needed, but what I come for the most is for the simple purpose of living in a more democratic and equal society, to swim in a lake, sing and chat with friends in a society I like. I hope to see you there!

Samuel Grönvik Alvarez, 14 september 2022