Kollektiva emotioner i den socialdemokratiska berättelsen - Att forma visioner i tider av framtidsrädsla
Abstract
In the changing political landscape today with increased inequality, climate threat and a growing
populism, in the face of which the established political parties stand before new and big
challenges, this study aims to get a deeper understanding of the Swedish Social democrat’s
collective emotions in the shaping of a social democratic narrative. Using emotional sociological
concepts from Collins, Lantz and Wettergren this study contributes to the field of political
emotions. The qualitative method used to collect empirical data is based on focus group
interviews with social democratic politicians and members. The result of the study shows that
nostalgia, pride, guilt, shame, confusion, frustration, fear and hope are the most prominent
collective emotions expressed in the interviewed focus groups, some shown in clear patterns,
others more subtle that could be seen more as tendencies. The guilt, shame and confusion can be
seen as connected to a bad self-confidence in the groups that makes it hard for them to think
positively about their abilities in the future. The participants' avoidance of talking about the fears
of the future makes it difficult to identify objects of hope. Both the bad confidence and the
avoidance of learning about future threats creates difficulties in shaping the longed-for future
visions for the participants.
Degree
Student essay
View/ Open
Date
2024-10-15Author
Ekström, Malin
Keywords
collective emotions, political emotions, social democratic narrative, nostalgia, fear, guilt, hope, shame, confusion, frustration, self-confidence, emotional energy
Language
swe