Psychoanalysis, Marxism: Once and Again

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the relationship between psychoanalysis and Marxism on the basis of two historical examples at the beginning of the 20th century in the Soviet Union and Germany. These examples are chosen because of socio‐political events with long‐lasting consequences in which a reference to psychoanalysis emerged as a necessary counterpart of social diagnosis. While Marxism was officially seen as a tool of social change in the Soviet Union, with the rise of fascism in Germany Marxism became both a target of repression and a critical tool of opposition. It will be shown that in both countries psychoanalysis was seen as an important tool whose destiny was shaped by goals set up by political power structures. Therefore, the position of psychoanalysis in these countries underwent dramatic changes. The article asks whether from these historical examples we can draw some lessons for dealing with the contemporary crisis.