Political theory and the psychology of the unconscious

It has been generally agreed that political theory is made up of a great conversation, a sequence of arguments that have been going on for over 2,000 years among the giants of intellectual life. This overview of historical developments in psychoanalysis and their relationships with political philosophy looks at the contribution made by various sages and philosophers to political debate. The originality of the book lies in its inclusion not just of philosophers and political theorists, but also of psychoanalysis, as a way of establishing how rich a contribution psychoanalysis can make to political theory. The book is in three parts. It starts with the philosophical and social thought of Mill, Nietzsche, and Dostoevsky, and then after an analysis of Freud's power, looks at Fromm, Erikson, and Bettelheim, where the writing takes on a more personal tone. The aim of the book is, as Nathan M. Szajnberg observes, to "return psychoanalytic thinking and discourse to the aim of building better communities and societies that foster autonomy and the capacity for enjoyment, balanced by a commitment to intimacy and community."