Solidarity, uncertainty or fear? Emotional responses to flags and flag-waving at an international youth camp

The article examines the relationship between national flags, actors’ emotional responses and the environment in which the flagging occurs. Building on a conceptual framework composed of the elements emotion, object, site and knowledge, the author demonstrates through an analysis of four incidents observed at a youth camp how the meanings attributed to specific groups and their symbols within Danish media and society generate in spectators a sense of solidarity uncertainty and possibly fear. The research draws attention to the significance of the emotional dimension to intercultural encounters, as well as the role of the socio-spatial environment in producing emotion.