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The Pitfalls of “Love and Kindness”: On the Challenges to Compassion/Pity as a Political Emotion

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  • Anne-Kathrin Weber

    (Department of Political Science, University of Giessen, Germany)

Abstract

Martha Nussbaum’s political theory of compassion offers an extensive and compelling study of the potential of employing compassionate emotions in the political realm to further social justice and societal “love”. In this article, two pitfalls of Nussbaum’s affirming theory of a politics of compassion are highlighted: the problem of a dual-level hierarchisation and the “magic” of feeling compassion that potentially removes the subject of compassion from reality. I will argue that Hannah Arendt’s thoughts on pity provide substantial challenges to a democratic theory of compassion in this respect. Following these theoretical reflections, I will turn to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 US-American presidential election campaign, to her video ads “Love and Kindness” in particular, in order to provide fitting illustrations from current realpolitik for these specific pitfalls of the political employment of compassionate emotions.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne-Kathrin Weber, 2018. "The Pitfalls of “Love and Kindness”: On the Challenges to Compassion/Pity as a Political Emotion," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(4), pages 53-61.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v:6:y:2018:i:4:p:53-61
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amy Skonieczny, 2018. "Emotions and Political Narratives: Populism, Trump and Trade," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(4), pages 62-72.
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