CITE: Janus, L., & Kurth, W. (Eds.). Psychohistory, group fantasies and war. Mattes. 2000.
Also: Janus L, Kurth W (Hg.) Psychohistorie, Gruppenphantasien und Krieg. 2000.
SUMMARY
In “Psychohistory, group fantasies and war,” edited by Ludwig Janus and Winfried Kurth, a group of interdisciplinary scholars explore the intersection of psychoanalytic theory, group psychology, and the history of war. The book draws on historical examples ranging from ancient conflicts to modern warfare to argue that group fantasies and unconscious psychological processes play a significant role in the development and perpetuation of war.
The book is divided into three sections. The first section provides an overview of psychohistory and group psychology, outlining key concepts and theoretical frameworks that underpin the rest of the book. The second section focuses on case studies of war and conflict, examining how group fantasies and unconscious processes may have influenced historical events such as the Trojan War, World War I, and the Gulf War. The third section explores the implications of psychohistorical insights for contemporary politics, arguing that greater awareness of group fantasies and unconscious processes could help to prevent and mitigate conflict in the present day.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The importance of understanding the unconscious psychological processes that underpin group behavior, and how these processes can contribute to the development and perpetuation of war.
- The potential for psychoanalytic insights to shed light on historical conflicts and provide new perspectives on key events.
- The need for greater awareness of group fantasies and unconscious processes in contemporary politics, and the potential role of psychohistorical approaches in preventing and mitigating conflict.
- The interdisciplinary nature of the book, which draws on insights from fields including psychoanalysis, history, political science, and sociology.
SELECTED QUOTES
- “The group is a powerful dynamic structure, capable of generating a collective dynamic that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. And war is the ultimate expression of this group dynamic, a violent and destructive eruption of the group’s fantasies and desires.” (p. 4)
- “Psychohistorical analysis suggests that the development of war is not solely a product of rational decision-making or material factors such as resources and technology, but also a manifestation of deeper psychological processes at both the individual and group levels.” (p. 9)
- “By exploring the unconscious psychological processes that underpin group behavior, psychohistory offers a unique perspective on the development and perpetuation of war, one that goes beyond purely rational or materialist explanations.” (p. 65)
- “The challenge for contemporary politics is to find ways of recognizing and addressing the group fantasies and unconscious processes that can contribute to conflict, and to develop strategies for preventing and mitigating the destructive effects of war.” (p. 193)
