“Emotional capitalism” in Eva Illouz’s work: An integral study of the concept and its ambivalences

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive examination of the concept of ‘emotional capitalism’ within the theoretical framework of Eva Illouz’s work. In order to elucidate the origins of this term, which has gained increasing popularity in academic literature in recent decades, two theses will be presented. Firstly, it will be argued that the central theme unifying Illouz’s thought is the concern for transformations in emotional culture throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Secondly, it will be proposed that the author’s analysis of emotional capitalism is somewhat ambiguous, thereby suggesting that the meaning of this neologism does not strictly align with the majority of works that explore the relationship between contemporary capitalism and emotional life.