Description
In recent years, scholarly attention in the field of international relations has increasingly focused on uncovering the intricate dynamics of the politics of emotions. Expanding upon this evolving research trajectory, our panel explores through a synthesis of diverse theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches the nuanced interplay between individual, collective, and structural emotional dynamics. This concerted effort enables a comprehensive examination of the micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis, revealing their interwoven nature and reciprocal influence. By shedding light on the complex mechanisms that govern the regulation and expression of emotions within the political sphere, our discussion aims to foster a deeper understanding of how actors attempt to navigate collective affective dynamics whilst simultaneously being influenced by them. In other words, the panel explores how the politics of emotions is a multi-level affair in which embodied experiences, anticipation of collective affective dynamics, expectations regarding appropriate feelings and expressions thereof intermingle. Consequently, the panel seeks to unravel the nuanced and often understated roles played by emotions as both instruments and outcomes of political contestation.
