Jonathan Freedland offers the insightful view that Brexit is more a feeling than a real definition (Brexit is a mood, not a policy – and Liz Truss holds all her illusions, 22 July).
If so, how can democrats debate and represent sentiment? What is the mood-equivalent of political expression? Do we expect democratic citizens to vote by heart or soul? Should the politics of sentiment always be the province of demagogues and imbeciles?
The political language of rational choice politics says little about emotion, often dismissing it as emotional confusion that distracts from interest-based preferences. Therefore, we are often shocked by the shock waves of the public.
Some of us in academia have paid attention in recent years to the ways in which emotions affect democratic politics. I wonder how often this term will be used in the Guardian and other media outlets between now and the next general election? I wonder if we can really learn?