The emotionalization of politics: an expression of democratization or a risk to democracy?

Emotions in politics are not new, nor are negative evaluations by sociologists. After the failures of Fascism and Communism, emotional politics were sidelined, especially in the highly polarized Netherlands. This changed during the ‘long 1960s’ with society's informalization, merging of private and public spheres, and greater appreciation for public emotions.

In this lecture, sociologist Jan Willem Duyvendak will argue that, while intended to democratize politics, this focus on ‘belonging’ can exclude minorities. Populist policies emphasize emotions, but their role in democracy remains contested amidst rising affective polarization. Given the high levels of affective polarization, have emotions in politics become an obstacle to democracy rather than an integral part of it?

What emotions are good for and what they tell us

From a psychology perspective, Agneta Fischer will argue that emotions are functional and serve to affiliate with or distance ourselves from others. She will critically reflect on sociological explanations of collective emotions and present a social psychological alternative. She will focus on three factors that contribute to the increasing manifestation of emotions in the political realm: 1) increasing threats to our social identities, 2) the contagious nature of group-based emotions, and 3) the cultural emphasis on the non-regulation of emotions.

After each presenting for about 25 minutes, Professors Fischer and Duyvendak will engage in conversation on emotions & politics.

Farewell reception

On 12 September, Agneta Fischer will also take leave as dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG). Following this AISSR lecture, we invite you to her farewell reception in De Brug, from 15:30 to 18:00. You can register below for both the AISSR Lecture and the reception.

About the speakers

Agneta Fischer is Professor of Emotions and Affective Processes at the University of Amsterdam. Her research is on (mostly negative) emotions in interpersonal and intergroup relations, such as mimicry, empathy, gender, culture, and more recently the role of emotions in populism and conspiracy theories.

Jan Willem Duyvendak is Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam. His main fields of research currently are belonging, urban sociology, 'feeling at home' and nativism. He is also director of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS).