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The Very Angry Optimist: Kim Stanley Robinson's Fierce Call to Action
A Commentary by Victor Perton
Optimism is realism. The optimist is entitled to be passionate, angry, frustrated, and even fierce in the face of injustice.
In a passionate speech at UCLA titled "Exploring Optimism, Optopia, and Climate Change Narratives," acclaimed author Kim Stanley Robinson delivered a powerful challenge to conventional thinking. His message was unmistakable: optimism is not wishful thinking—it's moral courage, grounded realism, and a catalyst for action.
Here's how he put it—with fire and conviction:
"Some of you may have noticed that when someone gets called an optimist, it often sounds like an accusation—like you're being slightly obtuse, perhaps even a bit stupid. People think, 'Why would anyone be optimistic in the world we live in right now?' It's seen as a sign of a lack of imagination.
So when people say, 'Robinson is an optimist,' I know what they really mean: 'He's an unrealistic utopian fool.'
But I've always tried to turn accusations like that into flags. Yes, I'm an optimist. I'm a very angry optimist. I'm going to beat you with my optimism like a club—until you admit that life could be better than it is right now. And then, let's move forward from there.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will. You don't need to be pessimistic in your thinking, but you absolutely need to be willfully optimistic—optimism of the will. Use it like a club to say: 'The world can be better.'
As for me, in terms of personal biochemistry, I'm a lucky guy. The glass is half full; I got that from my mom. How wonderful for me. But really, it doesn't matter politically."
This is optimism as leadership, optimism as a call to arms. It's not passive; it's purposeful.
What is Optopia? A Blueprint for Better
One of the most compelling ideas Robinson offered in his speech is the concept of Optopia—a term he uses to describe a future that is radically better than today yet not a perfect utopia. It is hopeful without illusion and practical without defeatism.
Optopia is a realistic best-case scenario from where we are now—a future built on solidarity, innovation, equity, and ecological restoration. Unlike utopias that feel unreachable or dystopias that paralyse, Optopia invites us into movement and action. It asks: What is the best future we can realistically co-create from this moment forward?
As Robinson said, "That's what we have to be working toward."
Optopia appears to be an original term of Kim Stanley Robinson. It blends the ideas of "optimum" and "utopia" to describe a future that is ambitious yet grounded in reality. The word does not appear in earlier utopian literature or academic frameworks, and Robinson has consistently used it to distinguish his narratives from idealised perfection and dystopian collapse. His articulation of Optopia offers a compelling narrative language for realistic optimism, which is increasingly influential in sustainability, climate storytelling, and political discourse.
Optimism of the Will – The Marxist View in Action
Robinson's quote draws directly from the Marxist view of social and political agency, famously articulated by Antonio Gramsci: "Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will." It's a rallying cry that energises activists, leaders and change-makers alike. Gramsci reminds us that while realism acknowledges harsh truths, transformation demands deliberate, courageous optimism.
My web page on Gramsci and Optimism remains one of the most visited pages on my website, a clear signal that people are seeking both insight and inspiration. Gramsci's principle aligns perfectly with Robinson's view: optimism is not a denial of difficulty but a strategy for action and a refusal to capitulate to despair.
Optimism is a state of mind, not a state of the world.
Reflection Prompt for Leaders
🟡 Where in your leadership could optimism of the will be the edge you bring today?
🟡 What would it look like if you wielded your optimism like a club—for hope, action, change?
Let's make optimism louder, contagious, and the leadership habit of the future.
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