Unfolding Affective Atmospheres during the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: The Constitution of Affective Governance in Taiwan

Abstract

This article primarily explores the generation and circulation of the affective atmosphere during the COVID-19 crisis, providing a nuanced understanding of the emergence of affective governance. It constructs an analytical framework to examine the spatiality, collectivity, and authority within affective atmospheres, which are essentially interrelated and mutually influential. It argues that the affective atmosphere can be manipulated to direct public emotions and actions, shaping specific forms of affective governance. Through a case study of Taiwan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper unfolds how affective dynamics converge to reinforce Taiwanese nationalism through the construction of atmospheric walls, social and psychological mobilisation, and technology-based interventions. It demonstrates that governments adapt to changing atmospheres and achieve their strategic intentions through performative spatial arrangements, emotional appeals and affective rhetoric, as well as the development of a digital surveillance landscape. It illuminates how these epidemic transmission control strategies have driven a shift in governance models towards greater emphasis on transforming and manipulating affective nationalism to stimulate public sentiments and collective actions. Finally, this paper suggests that further research and discussion is needed regarding the multifaceted nature of affective atmospheres to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of governance mechanisms, as well as to promote civic engagement and inclusivity.