In the emerging structure of the contemporary society, emotional intelligence is no longer optional; it is a core skill. As artificial intelligence and automation slowly replaces routine cognitive and technical functions, it creates a distinct need for humans who have the ability to feel, interpret and respond to emotions. Across workplaces, classrooms and welfare organisations, the ability to empathize, communicate and regulate emotions has become central to both productivity and social cohesion in the contemporary era.

This transformation has generated a demand for new labour, which sociologist Arlie Hochschild described as emotional labour—the management of feelings as part of one’s professional role. Such labour extends far beyond the traditional service sectors. It is evident in the contemporary professions in corporate, educational, healthcare and social work where employees are expected to showcase patience, empathy and composure, often irrespective of personal strain. Emotional intelligence, in this context, is not merely a personal trait which is required to build personal relationships; it is structurally embedded in the functioning of contemporary society.

However, the emerging centrality of emotional intelligence in the contemporary era is also experiencing a contrasting and deeply consequential trend: the rise of emotional politics. If emotional intelligence often manifests through regulation and reflective use of emotions, emotional politics operates by intensifying and mobilizing them. This contradiction is not incidental. Politics continues to shape public consciousness, social relations and everyday subjectivity. When it becomes increasingly driven by emotion, it begins to influence not just what people think but also how they feel.

It is evident that political discourse is framed around emotional triggers like fear,........

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