Psychoanalytic Politics

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In 1914, Freud predicted that the ultimate challenge for psychoanalysis would arise where resistance was strongest, particularly wary of America's potential distortion of his core doctrines. Among Western nations, France exhibited the longest resistance to Freud, but by the late 1960s, it experienced a profound 'infatuation with Freudianism.' This culminated in a rich psychoanalytic culture, largely shaped by Jacques Lacan's reinterpretation of Freudian theory, which resonated with the societal shifts following the 1968 uprisings. While psychoanalysis in the U.S. became tied to a conservative medical establishment, the French revival of Freud aligned with radical philosophical and political movements. Sherry Turkle narrates Lacan's influential role in shaping the French psyche, offering insights into how cultures adopt and adapt theories of the mind. This second edition includes a preface that discusses the cultural conditions for the acceptance of philosophical ideas and a final chapter, "Dynasty 1991," detailing Lacan's later years and the ensuing power struggles within his school after his death in 1981. The book serves as a comprehensive introduction to Lacan's teachings and provides an intimate sociology of how ideas resonate with individuals, making it essential for those interested in psychoanalysis, history, social theory, and related fields.