The Tragic Tradition : The Epistemic Shortcomings of Psychoanalytic Approaches to Fascism

This thesis examines the relationship between psychoanalysis and fascism, focusing on the epistemological challenges psychoanalysis faces in analyzing collective and political phenomena. Beginning with a historical overview, it traces early psychoanalytic approaches to fascism, including Reich’s theory of sexual repression and Adorno’s concept of the authoritarian personality, situating them within broader Marxist and liberal frameworks. It then turns to contemporary psychoanalytic theories, assessing their evolution through theoretical pluralism, relational models, and epistemological shifts away from intrapsychic explanations toward intersubjective and social approaches. The central focus is on psychoanalysis’ two primary tools—diagnosis and interpretation—as mechanisms for understanding fascist subjectivity. Drawing on six recent papers, the thesis evaluates how concepts like regression, splitting, projection, and containment have been adapted to analyze fascist dynamics, while critiquing the theoretical and methodological limitations of these frameworks. Special attention is given to the regressive and primitive psychological states attributed to fascist movements, questioning whether psychoanalysis can effectively engage with such structures or if it risks reinforcing ideological biases in its efforts to do so. While acknowledging psychoanalysis’ contributions to understanding group psychology and authoritarianism, the thesis argues that it lacks a coherent method for addressing fascism as a collective, political phenomenon. The conclusion highlights the need for more critical and interdisciplinary approaches, challenging claims that psychoanalysis is inherently anti-fascist and instead emphasizing its capacity to illuminate psychological processes without assuming political or moral authority.