Crisis, Emotion, And Control: Rethinking Governance And Institutional Responses To Uncertainty
Crisis, Emotion, And Control: Rethinking Governance And Institutional Responses To Uncertainty

Summary/Abstract: This study explores how fear and uncertainty, particularly during crises, shape states’ behavior and governance models. By adopting a naturalistic perspective rooted in natural human responses to fear and uncertainty, this paper uses the European Union as a case study to examine how modes of governance shift during crises compared to periods of relative stability. To explain the European governance, the study proposes the adaptive theory of governance grounded in human nature, analyzing state and institutional reflexivity, behavioral symmetry, fear-driven decision-making, and the dynamics of adaptive behavior. The study includes an empirical section analyzing breaches of European law, specifically the infringement cases initiated by the European Commission between 2007 and 2022 in the areas of justice, fundamental rights, and citizenship, as well as employment, social affairs, and equal opportunities. The results reveal a correlation between peaks in EU law violations and the major crises experienced by the EU. Furthermore, as crisis severity increases, the rate of violations rises accordingly. The study also finds that breaches occur across all member states during periods of crisis and significant change, regardless of the intensity of Eurosceptic discourse.

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