How are emotions about COVID-19 impacting society? The role of the political elite and grassroots activism

What is it about?

This paper empirically investigates the role of emotions in the polarization that emerged during the first months of the pandemic. So, we will analyze the social response of two opposing social actors: political elites that have minimized the risks of the pandemic, and grassroots groups that have promoted mutual support for vulnerable people suffering from the various effects of the pandemic. We will show how the conflicting responses can exacerbate social polarization in our societies. This polarization goes beyond the political spectrum, and in some cases even social classes, and reaches into the realms of values, emotions and practices. We will also show how the response from grassroots activism makes it possible to overcome guilt, shame, and other emotions of trauma, among other things.

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