Psychoanalysis and Colonialism: A Contemporary Introduction

Description

Within this important and insightful book, Sally Swartz introduces readers to early entanglements of psychoanalytic theory with colonialism and how it has led to significant and long-lasting implications for psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis and Colonialism is unique in drawing together a wide array of sources and a span of history from the beginnings of psychoanalysis to current theory and practice. The book explores ways in which Freudian theory incorporated the idea of the primitive into the centre of mapping the untamed territories of the unconscious, via notions of taming instinctual excess, civilizing the primitive and conquering and bringing order to wildness. The text describes the influences of colonialism on the thinking of Freud and Jung and goes on to describe anti-colonial voices, including Césaire and Mannoni, Memmi and Fanon, and their contribution to psychoanalytic theory. It concludes with thoughts on the challenges of decolonizing psychoanalysis. This book is an accessible account of the links between colonialism and psychoanalysis and is suitable for general readers with an interest in the topic, as well as all psychoanalytic practitioners grappling with the ways in which issues of race, class, gender and sexuality affect their ways of working and writing. Cover Endorsements Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements 1. Introduction Definitions and scope 2. The colonial Freud and Jung Context and history of ideas Freud Jung Constituting the primitive Talking back The place of the Other The politics of recognition Clinical implications of the colonial history of psychoanalysis 3. Anti-colonialism and psychoanalysis From Totem and Taboo to anti-colonial psychoanalysis Géza Róheim and psychoanalytic anthropology Practising psychoanalysis in the colonies The dependency thesis: Octave Mannoni From the viewpoint of the colonized: Aimé Césaire and Albert Memmi Fanon, institutional psychiatry and sociogenesis Fanon and psychoanalytic theory Clinical implications of Fanon’s anti-colonial psychoanalytic theory Conclusion 4. Decolonizing psychoanalysis The history and unconscious life of psychoanalysis Plurality and hybridity Undoing alienation: self-ownership Ambivalence The visceral Loss of privilege Activism, social challenge and collectivity Clinical implications Conclusion References Index