The Politics of Negative Emotions

Negative emotions, such as anger, fear, and shame, have been central to recent political events, such as COVID-19 restrictions and the Black Lives Matter and climate change movements. This volume explores the political faces of negative emotions, evaluating their impact on democratic principles and motivating acts of redress.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Negative emotions, including anger, fear, and shame, have played a significant role in recent political events, such as the protests against COVID-19 restrictions. These emotions can have destructive consequences, leading individuals to act rashly without considering democratic principles. However, they can also serve as accurate indicators of wrongdoing and motivate actions to address the situation, as seen in movements like Black Lives Matter and climate change activism. This volume brings together perspectives from political science and philosophy to explore the political dimensions of negative emotions. Contributors critically examine well-known emotions like anger and fear, as well as less prominent ones such as frustration and discomfort, in the context of real-world political events from Europe, the US, and Africa. By examining these emotions, the book aims to shed new light on their role in shaping political outcomes and the challenges they pose for democratic societies.

Negative emotions, including anger, fear, and shame, have played a significant role in recent political events, such as the protests against COVID-19 restrictions. These emotions can have destructive consequences, leading individuals to act rashly without considering democratic principles. However, they can also serve as accurate indicators of wrongdoing and motivate actions to address the situation, as seen in movements like Black Lives Matter and climate change activism. This volume brings together perspectives from political science and philosophy to explore the political dimensions of negative emotions. Contributors critically examine well-known emotions like anger and fear, as well as less prominent ones such as frustration and discomfort, in the context of real-world political events from Europe, the US, and Africa. By examining these emotions, the book aims to shed new light on their role in shaping political outcomes and the challenges they pose for democratic societies.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529228793