Uncovering the Unknown Known

Abstract

This review article provides an overview of the way in which three recently published edited volumes study emotions in International Relations; how they define and operationalise emotions;and how they make sense of the link between emotional framings and international violence. It is argued here that much progress has been made but that future research would benefit from a more detailed examination of the articulation between the social and the dominance of a certain emotional framing in a given (inter)national setting. Thus, emotions should not be considered as “independent variables” but as embedded in social structures and practices that favour or disfavour the expression of given emotions.