The Psyche, Politics, and the West in an Era of Turmoil and Disorder

The Western world is besieged by rapid and frightening economic and social changes that are leaving many of its citizens feeling overwhelmed, confused and left behind. In addition, the influx of immigrants from other parts of the world (from Syria and other countries of the Middle East to Europe and from Mexico and other countries of Central America to the United States) raises vulnerabilities about basic safety, economic threat, and the clash of cultures. In both America and Europe, these forces are deeply unsettling to those least able to adapt to change and most threatened by the loss of the world as they have known it. Brexit in England and Trump in America are political examples of how disruptive these forces can be to the status quo. For example, “Make America Great Again” is a perfect slogan to mobilize the yearnings and fears of many in America. This webinar will offer a wide ranging discussion of our contemporary psyche (s) and the political/social/cultural/economic/ shifts that are profoundly disruptive to all citizens. With the American Presidential election about to take place, this is a perfect time to both dive into what is happening right now and to step back and reflect on its cause as well as on its destructive and perhaps less visible, its creative potentials.