How can psychoanalytic interpretations of political situations have effects as actions?

Article


Rustin, M. 2024. How can psychoanalytic interpretations of political situations have effects as actions? The International Journal of Psychoanalysis. 105 (3), pp. 398-404. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207578.2024.2350214
AuthorsRustin, M.
Abstract

This article examines the difficulties of making use of psychoanalytic insights to understand and influence political events. In clinical practice, it has often been possible to bring about understanding and change in patients, and in that context, immense developments in psychoanalytic theories and techniques have taken place. But there is no parallel tradition giving rise to the interpretation of unconscious political phenomena although there have been outstanding contributions of this kind by individuals, beginning with Freud's work on group psychology. There have been valuable psychoanalytic understandings of broad social changes, but effective interventions in “here and now” political situations have been few. Some examples of these include Keynes's understanding of the economic consequences of the peace of 1918 which were seen to be relevant mainly after the later peace of 1945 and Mitscherlichs' analysis in the1970s of the German people's “inability to mourn” the catastrophes of the Nazi period. The article concludes with reflections on the conditions which might facilitate effective interpretations of political situations by psychoanalysts today.

JournalThe International Journal of Psychoanalysis
Journal citation105 (3), pp. 398-404
ISSN0020-7578
1745-8315
Year2024
PublisherTaylor & Francis (Routledge)
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/00207578.2024.2350214
Publication dates
Online15 Jul 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited21 Aug 2024
Copyright holder© 2024, The Author
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/8y23y

Download files


Publisher's version
  • 28
    total views
  • 15
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Identity or Identification? Why the Difference Between These Concepts Matters
Rustin, M. 2023. Identity or Identification? Why the Difference Between These Concepts Matters. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly . 92 (3), pp. 435-461. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332828.2023.2270510
What should socialists think about China?
Rustin, M. 2016. What should socialists think about China? Theory & Struggle.
Grounded Theory methods in child psychotherapy research
Rustin, M. 2016. Grounded Theory methods in child psychotherapy research. Journal of Child Psychotherapy. 42 (2), pp. 179-197.
Psychotherapy in a neoliberal world
Rustin, M. 2015. Psychotherapy in a neoliberal world. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling. 17 (3), pp. 225-239.
Psychotherapy and its alternatives: Commentary on a critique
Rustin, M. 2015. Psychotherapy and its alternatives: Commentary on a critique. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling. 17 (4), pp. 418-428.
Anxieties and Defences: Normal and Abnormal
Rustin, M. 2015. Anxieties and Defences: Normal and Abnormal. Organisational & Social Dynamics. 15 (2), pp. 233-247.
A relational society
Rustin, M. 2013. A relational society. Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture. 54, pp. 23-36. https://doi.org/10.3898/136266213807299014
Research on the couch: single-case studies, subjectivity and scientific knowledge
Rustin, M. 2014. Research on the couch: single-case studies, subjectivity and scientific knowledge. Journal of Child Psychotherapy. 40 (1), pp. 118-126.
Book Reviews: How Secularists Deal with Traditionalists (or Don’t)
Rustin, M. 2016. Book Reviews: How Secularists Deal with Traditionalists (or Don’t). The Political Quarterly. 87 (2), pp. 280-303.
Belonging to oneself alone: The spirit of neoliberalism
Rustin, M. 2014. Belonging to oneself alone: The spirit of neoliberalism. Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society. 19 (2), pp. 145-160.
'Working from the Symptom’: Stuart Hall’s Political Writing
Rustin, M. 2007. 'Working from the Symptom’: Stuart Hall’s Political Writing. in: Meeks, Brian (ed.) Culture Politics Race and Diaspora: the Thought of Stuart Hall Kingston, Jamaica Ian Randle Publishers.
Sibling Catastrophes: an Essay on two Jacobean Tragedies
Rustin, Margaret and Rustin, M. 2007. Sibling Catastrophes: an Essay on two Jacobean Tragedies. Costruzioni Psicoanalitiche.
Looking in the Right Place: Complexity Theory, Psychoanalysis and Infant Observation
Rustin, M. 2002. Looking in the Right Place: Complexity Theory, Psychoanalysis and Infant Observation. Infant Observation. 5 (1), pp. 122-144.
Empire: A Postmodern Theory of Revolution
Rustin, M. 2002. Empire: A Postmodern Theory of Revolution. New Political Economy. 7 (3), pp. 451-462.
Rustin, M. (2003) ‘The Shield of America‘,The Political Quarterly 74 (3) 409 - 412
Rustin, M. 2003. Rustin, M. (2003) ‘The Shield of America‘,The Political Quarterly 74 (3) 409 - 412. Political Quarterly. 74 (3), pp. 409-412.
The Making of Political Identity: Edward Thompson and William Cobbett
Rustin, M. 2003. The Making of Political Identity: Edward Thompson and William Cobbett. Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture.
Learning from the Victoria Climbié Inquiry
Rustin, M. 2004. Learning from the Victoria Climbié Inquiry. Journal of Social Work Practice. 18 (1), pp. 9-18.
A New Social Darwinism?
Rustin, M. 2008. A New Social Darwinism? Twenty-First Century Society. 3 (1), pp. 65-86.
Social science perspectives on the 2012 Olympic Games
Rustin, M. 2008. Social science perspectives on the 2012 Olympic Games. Twenty-First Century Society. 3 (3), pp. 289-273.
How do psychoanalysts know what they know?
Rustin, M. 2007. How do psychoanalysts know what they know? in: Braddock, L. and Lacewing, M. (ed.) The Academic Face of Psychoanalysis London Routledge. pp. 272-195
Clinical Research in Child Psychoanalysis
Rustin, M. 2007. Clinical Research in Child Psychoanalysis. in: Tussen ruis en storingen: De golflengte vinden in psychoanalytische therapie Antwerpen-Apeldoormn Garant. pp. 93-104
Work Discussion: Implications for Research and Policy
Rustin, M. 2008. Work Discussion: Implications for Research and Policy. in: Rustin, M. and Bradley, J. (ed.) Work Discussion: Professional Practice with Children and Families Karnac Books. pp. 267-284
What do child psychotherapists know?
Rustin, M. 2009. What do child psychotherapists know? in: Midgley, N., Anderson, J. and Nesic-Vuckovic, T. Urwin, C (ed.) Child Psychotherapy and Research: New Approaches Routledge.
What's wrong with happiness?
Rustin, M. 2007. What's wrong with happiness? Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture.
The Regeneration of Doctor Who
Rustin, M. and Rustin, Margaret 2008. The Regeneration of Doctor Who. in: Plastow, J. (ed.) Children’s Literature Annual No 2 The Story and the Self: Some Psychoanalytic Perspectives University of Hertfordshire Press. pp. 142-159
Learning about emotions: the Tavistock approach
Rustin, M. 2003. Learning about emotions: the Tavistock approach. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling. 6 (3), pp. 187-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/0967026042000269665
Rethinking Audit and Inspection
Rustin, M. 2004. Rethinking Audit and Inspection. Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture.
Infant observation research: What have we learned so far?
Rustin, M. 2006. Infant observation research: What have we learned so far? Infant Observation. 9 (1), pp. 35-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/13698030600593856
The Long Revolution Revisited
Rustin, M. 2007. The Long Revolution Revisited. Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture.
New Labour and the theory of globalization
Rustin, M. 2008. New Labour and the theory of globalization. Critical Social Policy. 28 (3), pp. 273-282. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018308091269