Finding Joy in Teaching During Dark Times

The last decade has been difficult for political scientists as we witness global attacks on the institutions and values to which we have committed our professional and intellectual lives. We grieve as democratic values are undermined and deep, apparently unreconcilable, divisions fracture our Nation. We observe higher education under profound attack by those who question its value and relevance, while teaching students who continue to struggle with the consequences of significant disruptions to their education and the uncertainty of our current world. It is easy to lament, to despair, and to grieve. Yet, as Hannah Arendt reminds us in her 1959 address “On Humanity in Dark Times,” it is in sharing joy that we advance our humanity, even more than when we share our sorrow. This essay explores how we can find joy in our teaching—joy that nurtures hope and sustains us for the work ahead. If teaching is an act of optimism, how do we understand our work as fundamental, important to democracy, and a practice that can sustain our faith in the possibility of a better future? By recognizing that our skills extend beyond the boundaries of our classrooms and that the purpose of our teaching is broader than the priorities of the institutions that employ us, we can find deeper meaning in our work and have a greater impact on our communities.