Professor Todd Hall discussed his recently published book, Emotional Diplomacy : Official Emotion on the International Stage. The book explores the politics of officially expressed emotion within international relations, looking at the ways in which state actors strategically deploy emotional behavior to shape the perceptions of others.
Examining diverse instances of emotional behaviour—ranging from West German diplomacy toward Israel to international reactions to the attacks of September 11, 2001—Professor Hall reveals that official emotional displays are not simply cheap talk but rather play an important role in the strategies and interactions of state actors.
Emotional diplomacy is more than rhetoric; as this book demonstrates, its implications extend to the provision of economic and military aid, great-power cooperation, and even the use of armed force.
Link to book: http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100843320