In this masterful psychological-intellectual history, Eli Zaretsky shows Freudianism to be something more than a method of psychotherapy. When considered alongside the major struggles of the twentieth century, Freudianism becomes a catalyst of the age. Political Freud is Zaretsky's account of the way twentieth century radicals, activists, and thinkers used Freudian thought to understand the political developments of their century. Through his reading, he shows the ongoing, formative power of Freudianism in contemporary times. The role played by political Freudianism was chaotic and oftentimes contradictory. Nevertheless, Zaretsky's conception of political Freudianism unites the two great themes of the century--totalitarianism and consumerism--in one framework. He shows how important political readings of Freud were to the theory of fascism and the experience of the Holocaust, the critical role they played in African American radical thought, particularly in the struggle for racial memory, and in the rebellions of the 1960s and their culmination in feminism and gay liberation. Yet Freudianism's involvement in history was not one-sided. Its interaction with historical forces shaped the Freudian tradition as well, and in this illuminating account, Zaretsky tracks the evolution of Freudian ideas across the decades so we can better recognize its manifestations today. Reviews: "Zaretsky offers a fascinating analysis of the inherent political ambivalence of psychoanalysis, its intertwined conservative and utopian strands. Political Freud is a deeply interesting and important contribution to debates about the relationship between psychoanalysis, critical theory and politics." — Amy R. Allen, Dartmouth College "Much of twentieth-century political thought, ideologies, and movements cannot be understood without grasping the influence of psychoanalysis. Critical theory, postcolonial understandings of race, interpretations of the Holocaust and war, feminism and the New Left all drew on Freud in both high theory and everyday understanding. In Political Freud, Eli Zaretsky narrates the twentieth-century story with verve and insight and shows how the influences continue into the twenty-first." — Craig Calhoun, Director, London School of Economics and Political Science "Eli Zaretsky is one of the best historians of Freudian thought. Once again he knows to show the social and political impact of this, and the central role it plays in the second half of the twentieth century, in the rebel movements as feminism, the struggle of homosexuals, anti-racism and criticism of colonialism and totalitarianism. At the heart of this approach, he analyzes Freud's relationship to his Jewishness. A remarkable book." — Elisabeth Roudinesco, Université de Paris VII-Diderot. "In this nuanced, historically attuned and deeply felt consideration of the conflicting political implications of psychoanalysis, Eli Zaretsky traces the ways in which Freud's theories were employed to address the most pressing issues of the past century -- war, racism, the Holocaust, identity politics, and the never-ending crisis of capitalism. He shows how it has underpinned conformity as well as fueled critique. Against the current of our Freud-bashing times, Zaretsky makes a powerful case for his continuing relevance as an interpreter of both our political dreams and worst nightmares." — Martin Jay Contents: Acknowledgments Introduction -- Political Freud 1. Psychoanalysis and the Spirit of Capitalism 2. Beyond the Blues: The Racial Unconscious and Collective Memory 3. In the Shadow of the Holocaust: Rereading Freud's Moses 4. The Ego at War: From the Death Instinct to Precarious Life 5. From the Maturity Ethic to the Psychology of Power: The New Left, Feminism, and the Return to "Social Reality" Afterword -- Freud in the Twenty-first Century Notes Index About the Author: Eli Zaretsky is a professor of history at the New School for Social Research. His previous works include Why America Needs a Left: A Historical Argument; Secrets of the Soul: A Social and Cultural History of Psychoanalysis; and Capitalism, the Family, and Personal Life.
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