Publication
Emotions and policy change in the wake of political scandals: How did the Qatargate shake the European Parliament?
In this article, Seda Gürkan & Rosa Sanchez Salgado show which emotions the Members of European Parliament (MEP) expressed in the wake of Qatargate and how the discursive articulation of these emotions shaped their policy responses regarding transparency and accountability.
- Author
- Seda Gürkan & Rosa Sanchez Salgado
- Date
- 06 March 2025
- Links
- Read the full article here
The article examines how emotions influenced policy responses to the Qatargate corruption scandal within the EU. By analysing 28 plenary debates in the European Parliament and conducting interviews with MEPs and EU officials, the study shows how emotions such as anger and shock were initially expressed collectively, prompting strong policy actions. However, in the aftermath, emotional expressions became more aligned with partisan interests, which led to less ambitious policy outcomes. Overall, the scandal resulted in some transparency measures, although the effects were less significant than anticipated.
The authors argue that this finding does not imply a strict causal relationship or that emotions automatically lead to action among policymakers. Furthermore, the findings suggest that emotions play a crucial role in defining what is considered legitimate in policymaking.