Rational and emotional tension balances in the organization of political hunger strikes.

Connolly, John; Dolan, Paddy; Vertigans, Stephen

Abstract

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.

Citation

CONNOLLY, J., DOLAN, P. and VERTIGANS, S. 2023. Rational and emotional tension balances in the organization of political hunger strikes. Sociological research online [online], 28(1), pages 3-20. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804211003592

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 24, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 13, 2021
• Publication Date: Mar 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 16, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 16, 2021
• Journal: Sociological Research Online
• Print ISSN: 1360-7804
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-7804
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 3-20
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804211003592
• Keywords: Elias; Emotions; Hunger strikes; Organizing; Rational
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1308817