Toward a Psychoanalytic Politics

If the clinical problem of psychoanalysis is to find effective ways of talking with patients, the political problem is how to talk with one another and the public. In clinical work, psychoanalysts take into account such factors as the patient's transferences, defenses against anxiety and narcissistic vulnerabilities, as well as the analyst's theoretical and personal preconceptions. Politically, however, they often fail spectacularly in talking among themselves. Comments on the articles in this special issue which promote dialogue on the political relatedness of psychoanalysts. (Quotes from original text)