2 Jacinda Ardern and the Politics of Leadership Empathy: Towards Emotional Communities of Transformation
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Sukhmani Khorana
Abstract
This chapter examines the case study of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in particular her performance of empathy in the aftermath of a white supremacist attack on mosques in Christchurch. The purpose of this detailed discursive study of relevant news coverage and photographs is to illustrate: (1) a shift in the Western mediascape whereby political leaders, among others, are scrutinised not just for their private feelings in a public disaster but are also required to perform empathy alongside those most affected; (2) the emotional communities this leads to, which could be a building ground for solidarities with migrant communities in the future. While what is presented here is certainly not a perfect example of a leader as the Ardern government has been criticised for its record on slashing immigration, it is a useful one to understand contemporary public manifestations of empathy.
Abstract
This chapter examines the case study of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in particular her performance of empathy in the aftermath of a white supremacist attack on mosques in Christchurch. The purpose of this detailed discursive study of relevant news coverage and photographs is to illustrate: (1) a shift in the Western mediascape whereby political leaders, among others, are scrutinised not just for their private feelings in a public disaster but are also required to perform empathy alongside those most affected; (2) the emotional communities this leads to, which could be a building ground for solidarities with migrant communities in the future. While what is presented here is certainly not a perfect example of a leader as the Ardern government has been criticised for its record on slashing immigration, it is a useful one to understand contemporary public manifestations of empathy.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- Series Preface ix
- Introduction: Feelings and Migrants Come and Go, and some Stay/Stick 1
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Empathy
- Witnessing as an Expression of Critical Empathy: An Examination of Audience Responses to a Refugee-Themed Documentary 19
- Jacinda Ardern and the Politics of Leadership Empathy: Towards Emotional Communities of Transformation 32
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Aspiration
- Asian Americans and Asian Australians on Screen: Aspiring to Centre the Community Through Comedy 49
- Aspiration for Collective Progress: Diversity and Digital Intimacy as Practised by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (US), Sadiq Khan (UK) and Jagmeet Singh (Canada) 63
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Belonging
- Refugee Storytellers Claim Belonging: Agency, Community and Change Through the Arts 81
- Belonging as Affect: Towards Paradigms for Reciprocal Care in Community-Based Research 94
- Conclusion: Care and Resilience in the Face of Increasing Precarity – COVID-19 and Beyond 108
- References 121
- Index 141
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- Series Preface ix
- Introduction: Feelings and Migrants Come and Go, and some Stay/Stick 1
-
Empathy
- Witnessing as an Expression of Critical Empathy: An Examination of Audience Responses to a Refugee-Themed Documentary 19
- Jacinda Ardern and the Politics of Leadership Empathy: Towards Emotional Communities of Transformation 32
-
Aspiration
- Asian Americans and Asian Australians on Screen: Aspiring to Centre the Community Through Comedy 49
- Aspiration for Collective Progress: Diversity and Digital Intimacy as Practised by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (US), Sadiq Khan (UK) and Jagmeet Singh (Canada) 63
-
Belonging
- Refugee Storytellers Claim Belonging: Agency, Community and Change Through the Arts 81
- Belonging as Affect: Towards Paradigms for Reciprocal Care in Community-Based Research 94
- Conclusion: Care and Resilience in the Face of Increasing Precarity – COVID-19 and Beyond 108
- References 121
- Index 141
