covered by this distance that the proletarian dream can shed light on the con-
temporary politics of emotion–in what prematurelyhas been called the posthis-
torical, postideological, and postdemocratic age. Theend of masternarratives
and the disappearance of universals have created an opening for aresurgence
of political emotions in the context of right wing,nationalist,and populistmove-
ments in Europe and the United States.Meanwhile, new forms of publicity and
public life made possible through socialmedia and the internet have blurred the
boundaries between politics and entertainment and further expanded therole of
culture–in this case, media culture–in defining social imaginaries and organ-
izing political emotions.Written under the influenceofsuch developments, a
book on the proletarian dream offersamuch-needed historical perspective on
the long history of emotionsinsocial movements and the close connection be-
tween emotional practicesand cultural practices.
30 Introduction