What are antagonistic political emotions, and what do they do? This book explores how such emotions unfold within and shape the political sphere. By driving and reinforcing identities, political emotions deepen divisions and empower feelings of hatred but also establish allegiance and belonging. Contributions from leading philosophers, political theorists, and social psychologists uncover the broad range of emotions animating contemporary political life and reveal how they impact political identities while also generating both solidarity and division. The chapters trace how antagonistic emotions manifest across diverse contexts, from climate activism and online extremism to electoral politics and everyday civic engagement. The cutting-edge perspectives on the emotional foundations of political life make this volume essential reading for those seeking to understand what propels political behaviour in our polarized age. Challenging traditional binaries of positive versus negative emotions, the book shows how antagonistic feelings place us simultaneously for, against, and together.

‘This is, somewhat sadly, a most welcome and timely volume. The editors have done a great job of securing a rich diversity of primarily philosophical, but also psychological, and sociological perspective on antagonistic political emotions. The overall approach is exceptionally critical and conceptually alert and doesn’t rest with the ‘usual suspects’ (hate, resentment, anger).’

Thomas Brudholm - Associate Professor, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and author of Resentment’s Virtue

‘This book offers an ambitious and multi-faceted philosophical foray into the politics of emotion. Foregrounding antagonism, it offers a panoramic view of how emotions help constitute political identities, fuel commitments, structure public space, and channel collective action. A must read for anyone interested in politics and its affective underpinnings.’

Mihaela Mihai - Professor of Political Theory, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK

‘For, Against, Together uncovers the workings of antagonistic emotions in contemporary political life, from inspiring social movements to the dark corners of the Internet. Rich with new insights and timely examples, it is a book that both warns of the dangers of antagonistic emotions and finds them a place in our efforts to change the world for the better.’

Katie Stockdale - Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Victoria, Canada