Emotions in European parliamentary debates: Passionate speakers or un-emotional gentlemen?

Abstract

This article analyses the verbal display and role of emotions in the European Parliament (EP). Contributing both to European Studies and Parliamentary studies, this article shows how emotions are expressed and how they reflect power and status dynamics. Emotions are indeed used differently depending on the power position of Members of the EP (MEPs). This article also reveals that emotions may play a role in crisis situations by constraining the choices and policy solutions under consideration. This qualitative study compares parliamentary debates on two of the most relevant recent crises before 2020: the refugee crisis (2014–2017) and the economic crisis (2009–2014). Empirical evidence is drawn from the systematic in-depth content analysis of 25 EP debates.