Affective representation in Europe: intersectional differences in emotions toward national and EU parliaments

How do citizens feel about political representation, and how do these feelings vary across social groups? Using ActEU survey data from ten European countries, this paper examines the emotional dimension of representation and its intersectional foundations. We investigate how positive and negative feelings toward national and European parliaments relate to citizens’ perceptions of descriptive and substantive representation and assess variation across gender and LGBTIQ+, disability, migration back and socio-economic status across national and EU levels. Building on the affective turn, we analyze the linkages between emotions toward representative institutions and perceived representation, expanding our understanding of the role of affect in shaping citizens' experiences of inequalities in political inclusion.