How does government feel? Toward a theory of institutional pathos in public administration

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Boswell, John; Corbett, Jack; Grube, Dennis C.; Stein, Mari-Klara
• 署名单位: University of Southampton; Monash University; University of Cambridge; Tallinn University of Technology
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/puar.13901
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 962-972
• 关键词: emotional competence; heart; work

摘要

In the study of policy and administration, emotions are largely conceived as an exogenous factor that impacts on institutions and processes. Still ignored are the emotions felt and performed not just individually by civil servants, but collectively within government organizations. This article turns to insights on emotions from organizational studies to offer a conceptual framework through which to understand the lifeworld of government, or institutional pathos. It then applies this framework to an extreme case: Whitehall's response to the Brexit vote. Drawing on rich interview material from the Brexit Witness Archive, this article illustrates how the experience of individual and collective emotions deeply colored the work of British Government in delivering Brexit. The article concludes with a research agenda for public administration that foregrounds emotions.