In conversation with Diane Hielscher on Deutschlandfunk Nova, Nadine Knab explains the role of emotions in politics and shows ways to deal with them.

Why are political debates so emotional?
Because political issues are almost always emotional issues: they touch on identity (“Who are we?”), security (“What threatens me?”), and the future (“What will our lives look like tomorrow?”). Added to this is the logic of the media: emotional content generates attention and thus reach. This encourages escalation, outrage, and strong contrasts.

Why does this escalate particularly in talk shows and public debates?
Talk shows are rarely a place for genuine rapprochement. Guests often come with the mindset of persuading others—especially the audience—rather than listening, seeking compromise, or admitting weaknesses in their own arguments. This reinforces camp thinking and makes debates less solution-oriented.

How could we deal with this more effectively?
1) Consciously direct attention and ask better questions:
Public debates often revolve around simplified yes/no frames: “Migration—yes or no?” or “Migration—good or bad?”
These questions automatically create camp thinking. Questions that allow for complexity and enable solutions are more helpful:
– What are the specific challenges?
– What is going well – and why?
– What is going really badly – and what needs to change?

2) Strengthen local social stability:
Not just “more facts” – but more local social stability. Social cohesion first arises in the community, among friends, in the neighborhood. That is where we can strengthen local civil society – and it is civil society that actually sustains our society in times of crisis.
This was also evident during the power outage in Berlin in January 2026: in moments like these, it is neighbors, local networks, and pragmatic help that hold everyday life together.

What emotions does democracy need?
A wide range, but above all emotions that strengthen connection and the ability to act.
Empathy could weaken polarization because it reduces the reflex to treat others as “enemies.”
Hope strengthens democracy because it translates powerlessness into agency: “We can make a difference.”

Click here to listen to the interview on Deutschlandfunk Nova. (The interview was held in German.)