Uncovering Power Dynamics: Feeling Rules in European Policy‐making

Abstract

While feeling rules have been found to be highly relevant in social research and international relations, little is known about their role in European policy-making. This article explores how emotions have been understood by Commission and Council officials and by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) across policy areas over a long time period (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014). Qualitative content analysis reveals the existence of feeling rules and that the appropriateness of emotions has been contested. Many policy-makers, placing emotions in opposition to rationality, have claimed that policy-making should be devoid of emotions, especially in policy areas such as public health, energy, and the environment. In contrast, in policy areas such as foreign policy and home affairs, emotions are often considered to be appropriate. This article also reflects on the role of feeling rules in constraining and enabling the policy process, uncovering subtle power dynamics. Data analysed include the European Parliament (EP) database (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014) and the EUSpeech database (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015).

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Examining the dynamics of pro-social rule-breaking among grassroots public servants

“…Despite public policymakers' efforts to articulate formal rules more efficiently, rule-breaking is continuously reported at various levels in public agencies (Malik and Mishra, 2023;Manolopoulos, 2002;Martin et al 2013;Mayer et al 2007). There is a growing research interest in investigating the approaches, preferences, and whys and wherefores of policies and rules implementers (Dahling et al 2012;Sanchez Salgado, 2023) and grassroots civil servants (Duan and So, 2022). In Krislov (2012) book "Representative Bureaucracy," the term "guerrilla government" is referred to as a situation where bureaucrats covertly resist or undermine the policies of the elected political leaders they are supposed to serve.…”

Eternal Friends or Jubilant Brexiteers? The Impact of Brexit on UK MEPs' Parliamentary Work in the European Parliament

“…In his work on parliamentary roles, Searing too discussed emotional factors behind these roles (1994). Most recently, Sanchez Salgado (2022) has shown how MEPs display and use different emotions and how this is dependent on their power position and status. The effect of such emotions is to reduce the choices available and to impact on policy discussions and policy choices (Sanchez Salgado, 2022).…”

“…Additionally, our approach pinpoints less visible informal forms of parliamentary work. We study the work that affects and emotions do in sustaining specific constructions of parliamentary work (Ahmed, 2004; Mannevuo et al, 2022; Sanchez Salgado, 2022). Brexit was a particularly emotionally charged political event and process, which leads to the expectation that such affects and emotions would shape parliamentary work too.…”