Inner and Outer Democracy and the threat of Authoritarianism: Reflections on Psychological Factors at Play in our Polarised World

#WithUkrainianJungians webinar 8

An exerpt from Catherine Cox:

This webinar is concerned with the increasing rise of authoritarianism in the psyche, very evident outwardly now in the “democratic” countries of the world, as well as increasingly so in those countries already considered to be authoritarian. Donald Kalshed is known throughout the world for his work on trauma. In this webinar he explains the link between trauma and inner and outer authoritarianism. When we understand what is happening, we can work with it.

An excerpt Donald Kalsched:

In the trauma-work I do with individual patients, I have come to realize that I am fighting for a democracy of the psyche against the tyranny of authoritarian defences--just like front-line Ukrainian soldiers are fighting for democracy against the tyranny of Russian autocracy. Of course I cannot compare my struggle with those Ukrainian heroes who risk their lives every day while I sit in my comfortable office talking to people. But the point I want to make in this presentation, is that democracy is not just an outer form of government worth defending. It is also an inner one. It is a principle of organization among the parts of a person or the parts of a nation. This principle is based on freedom instead of fear, on openness instead of constriction, on equality instead of domination, and on inclusiveness instead of exclusion, i.e., on representation of all parts of the whole in a central body, e pluribus unam - from the many, one. Jung was eloquent about how crucial democracy is to a healthy psyche inwardly and to a healthy community outwardly. His conviction comes from his understanding that consciousness is only generated through an aggressive struggle between the opposites. Democracy provides the best container we have for that struggle. Therefore democracy, both inner and outer, is an engine of consciousness generation. It is the way we become whole and the way we generate a moral center in ourselves and in the world. It is worth fighting for on every battle-front--both within and without.

See the full program flyer to read more from Catherine and Donald, full speaker biographies, and information on how to book your tickets or make a gift to Ukrainian colleauges.