Emotions in Politics: A Review of Contemporary Perspectives and Trends

Abstract

This article explores the dynamics of emotions in politics, and their relationship with political structures, discourses, and contestations. Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach, this review article synthesizes diverse perspectives on the role of emotions in political interactions, emphasizing their impact on individual and collective emotions. It explores five themes, beginning with the top-down construction of emotions by states, and extending to the global politics of emotions within geopolitical frameworks to understand everyday emotional practices. By addressing the discursive dimensions of emotions in politics, this article contributes to the evolving field of research on the connection between emotions and the construction of political knowledge.