The Affective Configuration of the Public Problem of Depopulation: From Resignation to Obstinance

Participation in public problems involves diverse strategies, including the challenging and transformation of hegemonic affective configurations. By exposing and disrupting the established emotional norms, actors gain affective agency, enabling resistance against the prevailing status quo and facilitating active engagement in democratic deliberation. To explore this idea, we present a sociocultural analysis of the Empty Spain Revolt (Revuelta de la España Vaciada) as a compelling case study. Employing semiotic-enunciational discourse analysis, we focus on the affective-emotional dimension, utilizing the movement’s Manifesto and photographs of banners from the March 31, 2019, demonstration in Madrid as our primary sources. Our research reveals the emergence of affective agency through three gestures: 1) Indignation as a Catalyst: Indignation serves as a driving emotion, stemming from frustration due to perceived neglect. This emotion fosters the assignment of responsibility to political parties and fuels demands for immediate action. 2) Pride and Urban-Rural Dynamics: The appeal to urban subject emphasizes the interdependence between urban and rural areas, advocating for justice, equality, and rural dignity. 3) From Resignation to Obstinance: The transition from a resigned figure to an obstinate figure shifts the enunciative agency. The resolute voices of the obstinate subject sustain a collective identity and enable a politically active subject. Our analysis underscores the pivotal role of affects and emotions in shaping public problems and in the articulation of actor. The process of dismantling existing affective configurations and presenting alternative ones not only influences encyclopedias and imaginaries but also impacts collective agency and power structures. This study offers insights into the intricate relationship among affect, discourse, and sociopolitical change.