Emotions and backlash in US society and politics

Abstract

Alter and Zurn’s framework identifies ‘frequent companions’ to backlash politics including emotive elements. This article addresses those emotive elements. In particular, it defines and unpacks the complex emotion of indignation, an emotion that sets off a dynamic process leading to mutual contempt between political groups. The article shows how indignation and its dynamic processes have helped unleash backlash politics in the United States.