Randall Collins' contribution to the sociology of emotions and its relevance to interpret contemporary Italian phenomena

The relationship between sociological knowledge and the emotional dimension has always been charged with tension. The willingness of the discipline to legitimise itself as a ‘science’ has often induced it to consider emotions as potential disrupters of “objective” results in the interpretation of the actions of individuals and groups. Yet, ever since the classics of sociology, it has been clear that the emotional dimension constitutes an integral part of social action, at both the micro and macro levels. In this chapter, I propose to examine the ideas of one of the most relevant contemporary exponents of the sociology of the emotions (Randall Collins) and show its relevance to interpret and understand some of the most recent social and political trends characterising the Italian context. The following questions will lead the way. What main elements characterise Collins' contribution to the sociology of emotions? What do these elements tell us about the interdependence between personal biographies and social change? What do they add to current debates on the theoretical relevance of emotions? How can Collins’ IR model help us understanding the contemporary Italian context? How can it be integrated with other Italian scholars studying emotions? Based on these questions, the general aim of this contribution is to illustrate not only how Collins managed to overcome a whole series of dichotomies that often characterised social theory at the end of the 20th century (individual and society, micro and macro, emotions and rational action, etc.), but also to clarify why and how Collins deserves a prominent place in current theoretical and empirical research on emotions.