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RN11 - Sociology of Emotions
An emotion lens on the social world
The sociology of emotions has grown since the 1970’s to become a vital and dynamic field within the discipline of sociology. With strong roots in the classical tradition, it has taken an increasingly central place within contemporary sociology and makes important contributions to general sociological theorizing, as well as to specific sub-fields such as the sociology of culture, politics, organizations, social movements, intimate and family life, the body, the economy, technology, social change, migration, and more. The Sociology of Emotions Research Network (RN11) brings together researchers from across Europe and the world with an interest in affect and emotions, deploying a range of methodologies to explain and understand a – perhaps the – fundamental feature of our shared social lives: our emotions.
The Network was formed in May 2004 and has grown significantly in terms of members, published and planned outputs, and various research activities. While the aim and focus of the Network remain the sociological study of emotions (and more recently affect), the diversity of themes and the range of theoretical and methodological approaches to the topic attest to the vitality of the field across the globe. Recent work has addressed the links between emotions and new forms of social inequality, the increased importance of ’emotional capital’ in organizations and work, as well as the role of emotions in politics and the judiciary—all traditionally perceived to be ‘rational’ domains; and the conceptualization of emotion not as ‘natural’ and biological but primarily social and constructed.
In particular, the Network aims to support and encourage PhD and early career researchers through targeted workshops and reduced conference fees. It is linked with other groups and networks focused on emotions across the globe, and remains a vibrant contributor to the work and mission of both the ESA and more broadly, sociology.
- Coordinator: Yvonne Albrecht (y.albrecht[at] hu-berlin.de), Humboldt-University of Berlin/ Berlin Institute of the Empirical Research of Integration and Migration (BIM)/ DeZIM (German Center for Integration and Migration Research)
- Co-coordinators: Natàlia Cantó-Milà (ncantom[at] uoc.edu), University Oberta de Catalunya; Cécile Vermot (cecile.vermot[at] supbiotech.fr), Sup'Biotech Paris; Rotem Leshem (leshem.rotem[at] gmail.com), Tel-Aviv University; and Nina Margies (nina.margies[at] sowi.hu-berlin.de), Humboldt-University of Berlin.
- For receiving our newsletter or becoming a member of RN 11 please contact Nina Margies (nina.margies[at] sowi.hu-berlin.de).
Advisory board
- Stina Bergman-Blix (stina.bergmanblix[at] soc.uu.se)
- Jonathan G. Heaney, (j.heaney[at] qub.ac.uk)
- Katarina Scherke (katharina.scherke[at] uni-graz.at)
- Alberto Martin Pérez (amartinperez[at] ub.edu)
- Monika Verbalyte (monika.verbalyte[at] fu-berlin.de)
Former Board Members
Jack Barbalet, Charlotte Bloch, Helena Flam, Åsa Wettergren, Debra Hopkins, Helmut Kuzmics, Jochen Kleres, Sylvia Terpe...and the members of our Advisory Board
10th ESA Conference
Hamburg, Germany
RN11 - Sociology of Emotions
Coordinators:
- Yvonne Albrecht, Humboldt-University of Berlin,Germany, y.albrecht[at]hu-berlin.de
- Natàlia Cantó-Milà, University Oberta de Catalunya, Spain, ncantom[at]uoc.edu
- Nina Margies, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany, nina.margies[at] sowi.hu-berlin.de
- Rotem Leshem, (leshem.rotem[at] gmail.com), Tel-Aviv University,Tel-Aviv-University,
- Cecile Vermot, (cecile.vermot[at] supbiotech.fr), Sup'Biotech Paris
CALL FOR PAPERS:
10th MIDTERM CONFERENCE OF ESA-RESEARCH NETWORK 11 “SOCIOLOGY OF EMOTIONS”, UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG,
AUGUST 31st- SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2022
This is the Call for Papers for the 10th Midterm Conference of the European Sociological Association’s Sociology of Emotions Research Network (RN11). The Midterm Conference will be hosted in 2022 by the University of Hamburg, Germany, at the chair of Social Analysis and Social Change (Sighard Neckel) and is jointly presented by the DFG-Collaborative Research Center "Affective Societies" at Freie University Berlin (www.sfb-affective-societies.de/en/index.html). The Conference will take place from
August 31st– September 2nd, 2022.
Keynotes: Olga Sabido Ramos (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Azcapotzalco) Sighard Neckel (University of Hamburg)
With regard to the pandemic situation, in-person- and online-solutions will be planned.
Important: Please mention already in your submission if you will attend in person or online at the conference in Hamburg.
As in previous years, we will take all high-quality abstracts with a substantial focus on emotions under serious consideration. At the same time, we would like to offer several focal areas of investigation in which abstracts are particularly welcome.
Abstracts not exceeding 300 words should be send by March, 15th 2022.
rn11midterm2022[at] protonmail.com
There will also be a Workshop for PhD-Students which will take place on 30th of August, 2022, held by Swen Seebach (Universitat Abat Oliba CEU) and Poul Poder (University of Copenhagen). If you would like to participate, clearly indicate this in your proposal and send a short (max. one page) description of your doctoral research project. Notifications about the abstracts and the PhD-proposals which will be selected for presentation at the Midterm Conference will be send by the mid of April 2022.
Proposed Sessions
Emotions, Climate Change and Sustainability. Fridays for Future, Glasgow, Greta Thunberg – climate change and questions of sustainability concern many people. “How dare you?” asked Greta Thunberg when she was speaking in front of the United Nations. How are emotions like guilt and fear involved in those questions and which effect do they have – or not have – in contributing to the fight against climate change? By analyzing emotions, which possible gaps between generations become obvious – or maybe emotions are able creating new forms for intergenerational solidarity? All contributions which deal with the relation between climate change, sustainability and emotions are welcome here.
Emotions and Awareness. The concept of awareness is currently a very popular one – especially in dealing with self-feelings and questions of identity. We are interested in contributions which analyze special meanings and definitions of this concept in different contexts and from different point- of-views. What are reasons why “awareness” became an important idea in the last years? Is the importance of the concept internationally comparable? Which functions does awareness have
analyze awareness in different contexts are very welcome. Also concepts like reflexivity and mindfulness can be discussed here.
Theoretical Considerations of Affect, Feeling and Emotions. Theoretical frameworks for the sociological analysis of emotions, feelings and affects have persisted the test of time for more than thirty years. Nevertheless, the potential for the sociological theorizing of these concepts is far from exhausted. As sociological interest in emotions, feelings and affects is swiftly growing, we would like to encourage the development of innovative concepts as well as theories that demonstrate how they can be integrated in social and interdisciplinary theorizing in general. Furthermore, also theoretical approaches about the connection of emotion, status and power are welcome in this session.
Collective Emotions, Identity and Solidarity. In what ways and by what means do groups and collectivities emerge and are maintained – paying particular attention to the role of emotions, affects and feelings in those processes? What does the concept of “collective identity” imply and how is it related to affects, feelings and emotions? And what is a still strongly discussed additional value of the term collective emotions in explaining processes of solidarity?
Emotion, Protest, Opposition and Social Movements. The most recent expressions of worldwide social mobilizations show the importance of emotions, affects and feelings for the understanding of protest. The formation of opposition and social movements is not thinkable without considering emotionality which is why the Sociology of Emotions is very important for understanding those phenomena adequately. Furthermore, other forms of civil society action need additional research – especially in explaining social change. Comparative approaches on such political expression of emotions are specially invited.
Emotions in Family and Intimate Lives. Intimate and family life may seem like the primary sphere of emotions. While this notion could be contested on other grounds, closer analysis also shows how emotions in intimate spheres are complexly embedded into larger social processes and macro- sociological structures. Research on love and friendship is particularly welcome within this topic.
Migration, Globalization and Emotions. With reference to the term globalization, emotions have not been particularly prominent in global analysis. The role of emotions, feelings and affects in transnational and supranational organizations, international NGOs, transnational migrant communities and global networks of mobile professionals is still understudied. What challenges and opportunities for individuals, groups and organizations are involved in these formations? And how are they linked to emotionality?
Methodologies for Researching Emotions and Digital Methods. We would like to continue the thread from several previous meetings and ask how emotions can be researched empirically – qualitatively and quantitatively. This remains an emerging subfield of the Sociology of Emotions and calls for expanded inquiry and debate about how emotions function in the research process; how to analyze emotions in empirical data; how to gather relevant data; how to device methodologies for specific theoretical concepts, etc. Particularly interesting – especially in times of a worldwide pandemic – is the link between digital methods and the Sociology of Emotions.
Emotion, Discourse, Media and Literature. Discourse theory contributed a lot to dismantle personal attitudes, attributes, stereotypes and identities as dependent on discourses and highly situated features of social interactions. However, there are still not too many works addressing emotions in social discourse. Included here might be literature, media and social media which can also be a valuable resource for emotion research and discourse analysis.
Emotion, Reason and Law. The idea of rationality as unemotional has persisted within legal theory for a long time. However, research in law and social sciences has paid increasing attention to emotional patterns in legal practice. How can a sociological perspective contribute to this trend? What role do emotions play in everyday law practice? How are emotions integrated in constituting laws and in laws themselves? Can a view which focuses emotions in this field broaden our understanding of the role of law within contemporary societies?
Emotions in Organizations. An important development of emotional labour studies has been the examination of emotions within organizations – focusing how organizational norms and regulations can both further and hinder emotions and their management at work. Empirical studies as well as theoretical considerations are welcome here.
Emotion and Religion. Some classics of sociology analyzed religion with an eye for emotions. Yet, the Sociology of Emotions has paid little attention to religious affairs. What is the role of emotions in religion? How can contemporary religious life be understood in new ways through the analysis of emotions, affects and feelings? How can we use different sociological theories of emotions for analyzing religion?
Emotions, Morality and Normativity. Current research on the relationship between morality and emotions is dominated by the disciplines of psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy. How can a sociological perspective contribute to these topics? How does sociology conceptualize the relationship between morals, norms and emotions? What do we learn about the normative constitution of groups and societies if we look at their emotional lives and dynamics?
Emotions, Finance and Political Economy. The development of the global capitalist economy and the growth of inequalities have increased the interest of social sciences in political economy. Yet the role and place of emotions need further investigation. Within both the economic and financial systems recurring speculation, economic/ financial crises and growing inequality call for a more critical view on the capitalist world. What role or function does emotionality hold for the construction of such inequalities, and what are the (emotional) costs? How could emotions, affects and feelings contribute to change in these areas?
Emotions, Politics and the State. In recent years there has been an upsurge in work exploring the connections between emotions and politics. Yet, while great strides have been made in both the political sociology of emotions and political psychology to understand and explain the ‘politics-emotion nexus’, less attention has been paid to the relationships between emotions, state power and legitimacy. In this session, we seek papers that address these issues that relate to emotions, power and politics, broadly conceived, including those relating to post-conflict and post-traumatic societies.
Submission: Deadlines 2022 15th March
Mid-April
May
30th August
31st Aug. – 3rd Sep.
Useful Links:
Abstract submission deadline (via Email to rn11midterm2022[at] protonmail.com)
Notification of acceptance (sent to abstract submitters via Email)
Opening of Participant Registration
PhD-Workshop
10th Midterm Conference of RN 11 “Sociology of Emotions”, University
of Hamburg
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ESA website: https://www.europeansociology.org/
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Research Network 11 “Sociology of Emotions”:
https://www.europeansociology.org/research-networks/rn11-sociology-emot… (also if you
would like to become member of ESA RN 11 “Sociology of Emotions”)
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RN 11 “Sociology of Emotions”: https://www.socemot.com
If you would like to be informed about the network’s activities please write an Email to Nina Margies (nina.margies[at] sowi.hu-berlin.de).
We hope to see you soon in Hamburg.
Yvonne Albrecht, Natàlia Cantó Milà, Nina Margies, Rotem Leshem, Cécile Vermot (Board of RN 11) and Elgen Sauerborn and Sighard Neckel for the organizing-team at the University of Hamburg
The 9th Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Research Network (RN11), Online Conference (supported by the University of Barcelona), November 25th-27th, 2020. Conference website.
The 14th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Manchester, UK, August 20th-23rd, 2019. (Biennial report)
The 8th Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Research Network (RN11), Edinburgh, August 28th – 30th, 2018 (held jointly with the British Sociological Association's Study Group on Emotions). Conference website.
The 13th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Athens, Greece, August 29- September 1, 2015. (Biennial report and minutes from the business meeting.)
The 7th Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Network in Stockholm, Sweden, August 25-27.
The 12th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Prague, Czech Republic, August 25-28, 2015. (Report from the business meeting.)
The 6th Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Network in Rhodes, Greece.
The 11th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Torino, Italy, September 28-31, 2013.
The 5th Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Network in Berlin, October 2012. (Conference report.)
The 10th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Geneva, Switzerland, September 7-10, 2011.
The 4th Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Network in Graz, Austria, September 29-October 2, 2010. (Read the conference report.)
The 9th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Lisbon, Portugal, September 2-5, 2009. ( Report on the conference here; see the bottom of the page.)
The 3rd Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Network in Budapest, Hungary, 2008.
The 8th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Glasgow, Scotland, September 3-6, 2007.
The 2nd Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Network. Karlstad, Sweden, October 6-7, 2006.
The 7th Conference of the European Sociological Association. Torun, Poland, September 9-13, 2005.
The 1st Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Network. Augsburg, Germany, October 3-4, 2004.
(The Research Network started as a Research Stream (Stream 4: Sociology of Love and Hate: Emotions) at the 6th Conference of the European Sociological Association (ESA) held in Murcia, Spain, September 2003.)
Contribution by RN11 in The European Sociologist, issue 43, 2019
RN11 Biennial Report for 2017-2019
RN11 Biennial Report for 2015-2017