Political emotions: a new policy science for tackling the climate crisis

Anna Durnova (), Till Hilmar (), Sonja Blum (), Ondřej Císař (), Maarten Hajer () and Michal Kolmaš ()
Additional contact information
Anna Durnova: University of Vienna
Till Hilmar: University of Vienna
Sonja Blum: Universität Bilefeld
Ondřej Císař: Charles University
Maarten Hajer: Utrecht University
Michal Kolmaš: Metropolitan University of Prague

Policy Sciences, 2025, vol. 58, issue 3, No 8, 617 pages

Abstract: Abstract The climate crisis and the policy measures intended to address it have become deeply polarized, reflecting broader political divisions. While emotions are increasingly acknowledged as central to policymaking, they are still often framed in policy debates as obstacles to rational decision-making. This persists despite substantial scholarship in political psychology showing that emotions are integral to rationality. This research note introduces the concept of political emotions – emotions shaped by and embedded in power relations, interests, values, and the interplay between rationality and affect – to argue that analyzing more carefully how emotions are framed in policy debates is essential for addressing polarized policy-making around the climate crisis and beyond. By foregrounding political emotions as a conceptual and analytical tool, we can uncover how they intersect with policy narratives, revealing the deep connections between the climate crisis and broader issues of justice and exclusion. Moreover, we can show how engaging with political emotions in the analysis of policy debates can help bridge communication and trust gaps between policymakers and citizens, highlighting the need for a more nuanced emotional engagement in public discourse. To advance this understanding, we propose a multi-perspective and interdisciplinary approach to political emotions, bringing together valuable insights from sociology, political science, and communication studies. We see such an endeavor as a continuation of Harold Lasswell’s original vision for the policy sciences; one that is empirically grounded, normatively aware, and publicly engaged. We aim to offer a conceptual and analytical toolkit for policymakers, civil society actors, and social movements navigating the emotionally charged terrain of the climate crisis and contemporary policy conflicts.

Keywords: Political emotions; Climate; Polarization; Democracy; Inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11077-025-09586-5 Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:policy:v:58:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11077-025-09586-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... ce/journal/11077/PS2

DOI: 10.1007/s11077-025-09586-5

Access Statistics for this article

Policy Sciences is currently edited by Michael Howlett

More articles in Policy Sciences from Springer, Society of Policy Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().