Framing, Narration and Discourse: Practises of Collective (de)Mobilisation through Emotions

Abstract

The panel Framing, Narration and Discourse: Practises of Collective (de)mobilisation through Emotions discusses different aspects of emotions that are activated when experiencing collective mobilisation and reactions to states of emergency. Emotions play an important role in determining human behaviour in emergencies, more so than reason and the rational decisions of individuals. On the one hand, emotions are an essential part of the emergence and development of any social movement - social activism movements use emotions to influence and mobilise individuals and possibly persuade them to join them. On the other hand, the state of emergency is deeply characterised by a range of emotions such as fear, uncertainty and insecurity, which often reinforce the deterioration of democratic principles and increase people's willingness to give up their personal freedoms. The state of emergency activates social structures and power relations of domination, which may rest on insecurities that social movements want to counteract and to accomplish the emotional re-framing of reality. Three papers in this panel discuss social activism in two critical contexts, Covid 19 pandemics and migration. They discuss frames of activism, media narratives and government discourses as practises of (de)mobilisation through the lens of emotions. They unfold the strategic appropriations of emotions by activists, journalists and politicians aimed at influencing people's behaviour and having an impact on their actions, attitudes and values. The contributions, each with a specific focus, discuss utilization of emotions such as empathy, compassion and solidarity on the one hand, and fear, uncertainty and insecurity on the other, to formulate problems and solutions, preform political work and promote or diminish democratic institutions.

Title	Details
Politicality of affects: framing migration through social movements’ mobilization of affective communication	View Paper Details
An Extensive Form Approach to Deteriorating Democratic Principles During Crises	View Paper Details
The anti-government bicycle protests in Slovenia: the emotional dimensions and affective states	View Paper Details