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.
Website: (currently unavailable)
8th Midterm Conference of the ESA Sociology of Emotions Research Network (RN11), Edinburgh, 2018
The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
*DEADLINE EXTENDED MARCH 16TH*
This is the call for papers for the 8th midterm conference of the European Sociological Association’s Sociology of Emotions Research Network (RN11). This year the midterm will be organized jointly with the British Sociological Association’s Sociology of Emotions Study Group. The midterm conference will be hosted in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and will take place from August 28th –30th, 2018. There will also be a PhD student workshop on the 27th of August with Stina Bergman Blix (Uppsala) and Mary Holmes (Edinburgh).
While all high quality abstracts on any topic in the sociology of emotion are welcome, proposed sessions include:
- Theorizing Affect and Emotion
- Emotions, Morality and Normativity
- Emotion, Discourse, Media, and Literature
- New Methodologies for Researching Emotions
- Emotions, Civic Action and Social Movements
- Collective Emotions and Identity
- Digital Sociology of Emotion
- Emotion, Reason and Law
- Emotions in Organizations
- Emotion and Religion
- Emotions in Family and Intimate Life
- Emotions, Power and Status
- Emotions, Finance and Political Economy
- Emotions, Politics and the State
- Migration, Globalization and Emotions
Abstracts not exceeding 300 words should be sent by the 2nd of March 2018 to Jonathan at: rn11midterm17 [at] gmail.com. Please indicate whether your abstract is for a specific session. If you want to participate in the PhD student workshop, clearly indicate this in the subject line of the email, and also send a short (1- page) description of your doctoral research project. Decisions and other info will be sent at the end of April, 2018. See cfp attached for further details.
RN11 Biennial Report for 2015-2017