Political Embeddedness And The Management Of Emotions

In: Mobilization: the international quarterly review of social movement research, Band 17, Heft 3, S. 319-334

Abstract

This article explores how variation in political embeddedness of social movement organizations (SMOs) influences the management of emotions. By variation in political embeddedness of SMOs, we mean variation in the strength and the number of ties between SMOs and the political establishment. By management of emotions, we mean efforts of SMO leaders to evoke particular emotions among SMO members. Using data from protest surveys conducted at demonstrations regarding climate change in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2009, we find that protestors who are members of a politically more embedded SMO are generally less angry than protestors who are members of a less politically embedded SMOs. The finding that this pattern is especially strong among SMO members who heard about the demonstration through an SMO, confirms the assumed role of SMO leaders in the management of emotions. Adapted from the source document.