Emotional circuits woven into a world map, symbolizing global relations.

Decoding Global Trauma: How Understanding Emotion Can Reshape International Relations

Jordan Keane in Global Affairs August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how emotions, trauma, and raciality intertwine in global politics, offering new insights for understanding and addressing international conflicts"

In an increasingly interconnected world, international relations are not solely dictated by rational actors and strategic calculations. Emotions, trauma, and historical narratives play a significant role in shaping political landscapes and influencing global events. Understanding these complex dynamics is crucial for fostering more compassionate and effective international policies.

Traditional approaches to international relations often overlook the profound impact of collective trauma and historical injustices. By centering reason and strategy, these models fail to account for the emotional undercurrents that fuel conflict, shape alliances, and drive political behavior. In this article, we'll explore how a deeper understanding of emotions, particularly in the context of global raciality, can lead to more nuanced and effective approaches to international relations.

We will draw on critical insights from scholars like Emma Hutchison and Frantz Fanon, whose work challenges conventional wisdom and emphasizes the importance of emotions in shaping world politics. By examining their perspectives, we can begin to deconstruct dominant narratives and reimagine international relations through a more empathetic and inclusive lens.

The Emotional Undercurrents of Global Politics

Emotional circuits woven into a world map, symbolizing global relations.

Emma Hutchison's work on affective communities highlights how collective emotions, particularly those arising from trauma, can profoundly impact international relations. Her research underscores the need to move beyond purely rational analyses and consider the emotional dimensions that shape political identities, alliances, and conflicts. This perspective challenges the long-standing presumption within international relations that prioritizes a hierarchy that places rationality above emotion.

Hutchison argues that emotions are not simply irrational feelings but are deeply intertwined with power dynamics and social structures. Understanding how these emotions are represented and communicated is critical for grasping their influence on political behavior. Her work encourages scholars and policymakers to consider the emotional legacies of historical events, recognizing that these legacies can continue to shape contemporary international relations.

Key aspects to consider:

Recognizing Emotional Legacies: Acknowledge how past traumas and historical injustices shape current political landscapes.
Understanding Emotional Communication: Analyze how emotions are expressed and interpreted across different cultures and societies.
Challenging Traditional Power Dynamics: Deconstruct hierarchies that prioritize rationality over emotion in international relations.
Fostering Empathy and Inclusion: Promote policies that address the emotional needs of marginalized communities and promote reconciliation.

Frantz Fanon's seminal work on colonialism and raciality provides a critical lens for understanding the emotional dimensions of global power dynamics. Fanon's analysis of the psychological effects of colonialism reveals how racism and oppression can lead to profound emotional trauma, shaping individual and collective identities. His work emphasizes the importance of recognizing the emotional wounds inflicted by historical injustices and addressing the ongoing effects of colonialism on international relations.

Moving Forward: Towards a More Empathetic Global Politics

By integrating insights from emotion studies, trauma studies, and critical race theory, we can begin to reimagine international relations in a way that prioritizes empathy, justice, and healing. Addressing the emotional wounds of the past is not simply a matter of historical reckoning but a crucial step towards building a more peaceful and equitable future. As we move forward, it is essential to challenge dominant narratives, deconstruct power dynamics, and foster a deeper understanding of the emotional undercurrents that shape our world.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/0305829818808387, Alternate LINK

Title: A Conversation With Emma Hutchison And Frantz Fanon On Questions Of Reading And Global Raciality

Subject: Political Science and International Relations

Journal: Millennium: Journal of International Studies

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Anna M. Agathangelou

Published: 2018-11-21

Everything You Need To Know

How does Emma Hutchison's work contribute to a deeper understanding of international relations?

The work of Emma Hutchison illuminates how collective emotions arising from trauma significantly impact international relations. By challenging the prioritization of rationality over emotion, Hutchison's research emphasizes that emotions are deeply intertwined with power dynamics and social structures. Understanding the representation and communication of these emotions is crucial for grasping their influence on political behavior, urging policymakers to consider the emotional legacies of historical events in shaping contemporary international relations.

In what ways does Frantz Fanon's analysis of colonialism and raciality provide insights into global power dynamics?

Frantz Fanon's work offers a critical perspective on the emotional dimensions of global power dynamics, particularly through his analysis of colonialism and raciality. Fanon highlights how racism and oppression lead to profound emotional trauma, shaping individual and collective identities. His work underscores the importance of acknowledging the emotional wounds inflicted by historical injustices and addressing the ongoing effects of colonialism on international relations.

Why are traditional approaches to international relations considered inadequate in addressing global conflicts?

Traditional approaches to international relations often fail by overlooking the impact of collective trauma and historical injustices. These models prioritize reason and strategy, neglecting the emotional factors that fuel conflict and shape political behavior. The focus should be broadened to include emotions, particularly in the context of global raciality, to foster more nuanced and effective international policies.

What is the potential impact of integrating emotion studies, trauma studies, and critical race theory on international relations?

Integrating emotion studies, trauma studies, and critical race theory can lead to a reimagining of international relations that prioritizes empathy, justice, and healing. Addressing past emotional wounds is crucial for building a more peaceful and equitable future. This involves challenging dominant narratives, deconstructing power dynamics, and fostering a deeper understanding of the emotional undercurrents that shape our world.

What are the key implications of Emma Hutchison's concept of affective communities for international relations?

Emma Hutchison's concept of affective communities highlights how shared emotions, particularly those stemming from trauma, can deeply influence international relations. It's essential to understand how these emotions are expressed and interpreted across different cultures and societies to foster empathy and inclusion in policies. Neglecting this aspect can lead to misunderstandings and perpetuate cycles of conflict.