Protest and the Ambiguous Politics of Indignation: An Empirical and Conceptual Study of Mobilizing Emotions (The Mobilization Series on Social Movements, Protest, and Culture)

What makes indignation ‘political’? And why should we care about it? Drawing on field-work among four movements in Belgium (2017-2021) - The Youth for Climate movement, the Citizen platform for refugee support, the Yellow Vests movement and the radical-right movement Schild & Vrienden - this book investigates both the meanings and implications of indignation in the context of mobilization.In particular, the book argues that what is often reduced to a form of ‘moral anger’ which triggers protest is in fact much more complex and ambiguous.Indignation is not just anger: it is rooted in hate and love.It may also harbour textures of compassion and disgust.It may be a culmination of resentful feelings or a reaction to fear.In some contentious contexts, it displays a distinctive righteous connotation; in others, it is rooted in historical forms of injustice and discrimination.It triggers some of the most disruptive forms of contention, while also reinforcing hegemonic norms and beliefs.Indign