Strategic Optimism: How Deliberate Hope Counters Pessimism in Conflict

For decades, Herbert Kelman navigated the most difficult tables anyone could imagine—Israeli and Palestinian representatives brought together in private workshops at Harvard or nondescript conference rooms. Each time, the room began with tension so thick it almost vibrated; at least once, someone would mutter, 'Nothing will ever change.'

Kelman persisted. He was no fool—he’d lived through war, exile, and endless setbacks. But he quietly kept watch for moments when someone offered a new idea, or nodded instead of shaking their head. He called this 'strategic optimism'—a skill, not a personality trait. At one low point, he privately doubted his own approach, until a leader from one side scolded him: 'We can give up hope. Not you!'

This wasn’t naïve cheerleading. Kelman kept his eyes open to setbacks and disappointments, but he chose to actively seek out and highlight every realistic sign of progress. Over years, he noticed these tiny cracks in the wall could grow. More often than not, his simple acknowledgement of a positive step—no matter how small—became contagious among participants. Science now tells us that self-fulfilling prophecies aren’t just negative; deliberate, realistic hope can create space for new actions and a feedback loop of rising possibility.

Sometimes, only the optimist in the room has the privilege—and the responsibility—to model a mindset that others can trust in, if only so everyone else can keep going. Strategic optimism, in Kelman’s hands, was never wishful thinking—it was tactical, persistent, and deeply embedded in his daily interactions.

In your own life, actively look for even the faintest signals that a conflict or challenging situation is shifting for the better, no matter how slow. Note these to yourself or out loud to your team or family. When brainstorming solutions, try framing just one scenario as if something small could trigger a bigger change—this isn’t magical thinking, but disciplined hope. And when you speak optimistically, ground your comments in specifics, making clear it’s a strategic act to open possibility, not to ignore setbacks. Be the person others can borrow hope from; sometimes optimism is the most pragmatic form of leadership.