Rational and Emotional Tension Balances in the Organization of Political Hunger Strikes

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2392166
AutoresJohn Connolly (0000-0002-8242-0070, Dublin City University, autor correspondente), Paddy Dolan (0000-0002-0086-8382, Technological University Dublin), Stephen Vertigan (0000-0002-0330-7513, Robert Gordon University), Stephen Vertigans (Robert Gordon University)
Ano2023
Volume28
Fascículo1
Páginas3-20
Data de publicação2023-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSociological Research Online (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1360-7804 • E-ISSN: 1360-7804
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/13607804211003592
OpenAlexW3154743130
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas28

This paper is concerned with the relationship between the organization of political hunger strikes, rational calculations and actions and emotions. Drawing from the theoretical formulations of Norbert Elias, we examine how rational-emotional balances generated by different and intertwined tiers of social integration partly shaped the organization of political hunger strikes. Political hunger strikes are interesting because they tend to involve actions based on rational considerations and emotional charges. The empirical context includes a comparative analysis across space and time involving the organization of political hunger strikes in Ireland and (West) Germany during the 20th century. Our analysis suggests a difference between the rational-emotional tension balance exhibited by hunger strikers of the 1920s and that of hunger strikers of the 1970s and 1980s. We explain how these differences are connected to the broader social structures pertaining at the time. The main contention of the paper is that all forms of political organizing involve rational-emotional balances, and these balances are structured and shaped by social dynamics at different tiers of social integration

Economics · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Social organization · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · History · Law · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Psychology · Sociology and Norbert Elias