All high-quality abstracts with a substantial focus on emotions will be given serious consideration. Additionally, Esa-Research Network 11 “Sociology Of Emotions” encourage submissions in several key areas of investigation where abstracts are particularly welcome.

11th Midterm Conference Of  Esa-Research Network 11 “Sociology Of Emotions”,   Queen’s University Belfast,  August 26th– AUGUST 29th, 2025

Proposed Sessions 

Emotions in Post-Conflict Societies:

While the sociology of emotions has helped us understand the dynamics of violence and war, less attention has been paid to post-conflict contexts. Yet, the emotional legacy associated with the different roles of perpetrator, victim, and witness becomes more complex when all three roles apply to the same persons/entities. Tensions remain between approaches focused on the management of emotions with an eye towards the future (associated with peace, reconciliation, and healing) and those focused on the acknowledgement of the hurt and harm of the past, while the fundamental question of power is often sidelined. In this session we welcome all papers that bring the sociology of emotions critically to bear on post-conflict/post-violence societies.

Emotions, Environmental Crises and Sustainability:

 Climate change and other environmental crises can lead to emotions such as guilt, fear, blame, etc.  How are these emotions involved, or not, in socio-ecological transformation? How and why can they influence the trajectory of climate action and sustainability efforts. Some research also highlights emotions such as solastalgia, eco-anxiety, eco-enthusiasm, apathy etc. Are they representative of new emotional states? How can they be theorized from a Sociology of Emotions perspective? All contributions dealing with the relation between climate change, sustainability and emotions are welcome here.

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 theme.

Collective Emotions, Identity and Solidarity:

How do groups form and endure, and what role do emotions, affects, and feelings play in these processes? How does "collective identity" relate to emotions, and what insights does "collective emotions" offer in understanding solidarity?

Difference and Emotional Othering:

Emotions, affects and feelings also play a fundamental role in creating boundaries between social groups. How do processes of othering work similarly yet also distinctively across different categories of diversity (race, class, gender, age, disability and health, sexuality, religion and others) as well as intersectionally? Emotional foundations of everyday discrimination in societies, which are structurally racist, sexist, ableist etc., are of interest here.

Migration, Globalization and Emotions:

In discussions of globalization, emotions have not been given significant attention in global analyses. 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?

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, 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? In what ways can a view which focuses emotions on this field broaden our understanding of the role of law within contemporary societies? 

Emotion, Protest, Opposition and Social Movements:

Recent global mobilizations underscore the vital role of emotions, affects and feelings in protest movements and civil society actions. Understanding resistance and social change demands attention to emotional dynamics. Comparative studies on the emotional aspects of protests are particularly encouraged.

Emotions, Politics and the State:

Recent research has advanced our understanding of the 'politicsemotion nexus', yet the links between emotions, state power, and legitimacy remain underexplored. This session invites papers that examine these intersections, including how affective polarization shapes political dynamics and public perceptions of legitimacy, and impacts state-society relations.

Emotions, Finance and Political Economy:

The rise of global capitalism and growing inequalities have heightened interest in political economy, yet the role of emotions remains underexplored. This session examines how emotionality shapes inequalities, its costs, and how emotions might drive change in economic and financial systems.

Emotion, Discourse, Media and Literature:

While discourse theory has emphasized the role of language and interaction in shaping attitudes and identities, the study of emotions in social discourse is rapidly expanding. This session welcomes research on emotions in literature, media, and social media as key resources for discourse analysis.

Emotions, Morality and Normativity:

Research on morality and emotions is often led by psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy. This session seeks sociological insights into the connections between morals, norms, and emotions, and how emotional dynamics shape the normative constitution of groups and societies.

Emotion and Religion:

Some classics of sociology analysed 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 analysing religion? 

Theoretical Considerations of Affects, Feelings and Emotions:

 Sociological frameworks for analysing emotions, feelings, and affects have evolved over decades but remain ripe for innovation. As interest in these concepts grows, we encourage the development of new theories and their integration into broader sociological and interdisciplinary contexts. Theories connecting emotions with status and power are particularly welcome.

Methodologies for Researching Emotions and Digital Methods:

 Building on previous discussions, this session explores how emotions can be studied empirically, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Topics include analysing emotions in data, refining methodologies for specific concepts, and gathering relevant data. The intersection of digital methods with the Sociology of Emotions is a key focus.

Submission guidelines

As in previous years, all high-quality abstracts with a substantial focus on emotions will be given serious consideration. Additionally, we encourage submissions in several key areas of investigation where abstracts are particularly welcome. 

Abstracts not exceeding 300 words should be submitted via email: rn11midterm2025@proton.me

by February 28, 2025.

A Workshop for PhD Students will be held on August 26, 2025, hosted by Prof. Mary Holmes and Dr. Jonathan Heaney. The workshop will provide feedback on the participants’ projects and encourage discussions on themes related to the Sociology of Emotions. PhD candidates working with emotions in their research are invited to participate. Please indicate your interest in your proposal and submit a one-page description of your project, highlighting the role of emotions in your work.

Notifications regarding selected abstracts and PhD proposals for presentation at the midterm conference will be sent in mid-April 2025.

• May: Opening of Participant Registration 
• 26th August: PhD-Workshop
• 27th – 29th August:  11th Midterm Conference of RN 11 

If you would like to be informed about the network’s activities, please write an email to Rotem Leshem: leshem.rotem@gmail.com.

Organizing team

Eduardo Bericat, Rotem Leshem, Alessandra Minissale, Betül Özkaya, Cécile Vermot, Yvonne Wechuli (Board of RN 11) and Jonathan Heaney at the Queen’s University Belfast