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Impact of Psychology on Critical Theory: Erich Fromm, Narcissism and Solidarity

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Impact of Psychology on Critical Theory: Erich Fromm, Narcissism and Solidarity IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGY ON CRITICAL THEORY: ERICH FROMM, NARCISSISM AND SOLIDARITY A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY TOYGUN KARAHASANOĞLU IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SEPTEMBER 2018 Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Tülin Gençöz Director I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science. Prof. Dr. Özlem Tür Head of Department This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science. Prof. Dr. Faruk Yalvaç Supervisor Examining Committee Members Assist. Prof. Dr. Şebnem Udum (Hacettepe Uni., IR) Prof. Dr. Faruk Yalvaç (METU, IR) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zana Çitak (METU, IR) I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last name : Toygun Karahasanoğlu Signature : iii ABSTRACT IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGY ON CRITICAL THEORY: ERICH FROMM, NARCISSISM AND SOLIDARITY Karahasanoğlu, Toygun M.S., Department of International Relations Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Faruk Yalvaç September 2018, 201 pages This work aims to contribute to emancipatory purpose of International Critical Theory by utilizing Erich Fromm’s psychoanalytical theory. In International Relations literature, usage of theoretical tools of the discipline of psychology has not been invoked in parallel with the aims of Critical Theory. By the same token, theorists of Critical Theory have not benefited from psychological insights in their theoretical work. This thesis aims to show the potential contribution of psychology to International Relations Theory by utilizing Frommian psychoanalysis to Habermasian Critical Theory. In this context, Frommian conception of human nature and narcissism and socio-political outputs resulting from their interaction with social relations are taken as the focal point. As non-destructive opposite of malign narcissism, productive orientation is claimed to provide a rudimentary basis for humanist and constructive interaction among social groups. Such interaction can further and widen the agenda of emancipation, defined as diminishing the social constraints that produce human suffering and obstruct human autonomy. Efficacy of Frommian approach to the development of a humanist political interaction and solidarity is discussed by taking Frankfurt School inspired Critical Theory’s critiques into account. Keywords: Solidarity, Narcissism, Human Nature, Productive Orientation, Emancipation iv ÖZ PSİKOLOJİNİN ELEŞTİREL KURAM’A ETKİSİ: ERICH FROMM, NARSİSİZM VE DAYANIŞMA Karahasanoğlu, Toygun Yüksek Lisans, Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi : Prof. Dr. Faruk Yalvaç Eylül 2018, 201 sayfa Bu çalışma, Erich Fromm’un psikanalitik kuramından faydalanarak Eleştirel Uluslararası İlişkiler kuramının özgürleşme amacına katkı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Uluslararası İlişkiler literatüründe Psikoloji disiplinin kavramları, Eleştirel Kuram’ın gayeleriyle paralel olarak uygulanmamıştır. Aynı şekilde, Eleştirel Kuram teorisyenleri de teorik çalışmalarında psikolojik iç görülerden faydalanmamıştır. Bu tez, psikolojinin Uluslararası İlişkiler Kuramlarına yapabileceği katkıları Frommcu psikanalizi Habermasçı Eleştirel Kuram’a uygulayarak göstermeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, Fromm’un insan doğası ve narsisizm kavramlarına ve bu unsurların sosyal ilişkilerle etkileşiminden ortaya çıkan sosyo-politik etkilere odaklanmaktadır. Narsisizmin yıkıcı olmayan karşıtı olan üretici yönelimin, sosyal gruplar arasında hümanist ve yapıcı bir etkileşim için bir temel oluşturabileceği iddia edilmektedir. Böyle bir etkileşimin, insan ızdırabını üreten ve insan özgürlüğünü engelleyen sosyal engelleri azaltmak olarak tanımlanan özgürleşme unsurunu destekleyebileceği ve genişletebileceği varsayılmaktadır. Fromm’un yaklaşımının hümanist bir siyasal etkileşimin gelişimine ve dayanışmaya katkısı, Frankfurt Okulu temelli Eleştirel Kuram’a getirilen eleştiriler dikkate alınarak incelenmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Dayanışma, Narsisizm, İnsan Doğası, Üretici Yönelim, Özgürleşme v For my parents, to those whom I owe everything good in me vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to express his deepest gratitude to his supervisor Prof. Dr. Faruk Yalvaç for his guidance, advice, criticism, encouragements and insight throughout the research. The author would also like to thank Assist. Prof. Dr. Şebnem Udum and Assoc. Prof. Dr Zana Çitak for their suggestions, comments and encouragements. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS PLAGIARISM...........................................................................................................iii ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... ….iv ÖZ .............................................................................................................................. v DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………1 1.1. Usage of Psychology in International Relations Literature………………...2 1.2. Concept of Solidarity in IR, Critical Theory and Erich Fromm’s Potential Contribution………………………………………………………………...10 1.3. Methodology and Aim……………………………………………………..25 1.4. Outline of the Chapters…………………………………………………….26 2. FROMM, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND PSYCHOANALYSIS .......................................................................... 28 2.1. Erich Fromm as a Frankfurt School Intellectual……………………..29 2.2. Erich Fromm as a Humanist Psychoanalyst………………………….34 2.3. Erich Fromm as an Observer on International Relations…………….53 viii 3. HUMAN NATURE, SOCIETY AND PSYCHE IN ERICH FROMM…....72 3.1. Subjective Self-Consciousness............................................................ 76 3.1.1. Historical Emergence of Human Beings……………………....78 3.1.2. Human Nature: Enter Vagabond……………………………… 82 3.2. Social Roots of “I”: Dynamic Adaptation and Social Character……..89 3.2.1. Dynamic Adaptation…………………………………………..89 3.2.2. Social Character……………………………………………….91 3.3. Unconscious: Our Truthful Apparition………………………………………97 4. NARCISSISM AND PRODUCTIVE ORIENTATION IN FROMM’S THOUGHT………………………………………………………………...110 4.1. Parameters of Psychic Health………………………………………....111 4.2. Two Answers: Progressive and Regressive…………………………...119 4.3. Social Narcissism………………………………………………….......128 4.4. Productive Orientation………………………………………………...138 5. FROM PSYCHE TO THE POLITICAL: FROMM, SOLIDARITY AND POLITICAL FIELD………………………………………………………...144 5.1. Humanism, Commonality and Difference……………………………..148 5.2. Sentimental Perception, Solidarity, Communication……………….....152 5.3. Detachment from Narcissim, Psychological Insecurity and New Rootedness……………………………………………………….158 5.4. World Politics, International Cooperation and Global Quest……….....161 6. CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………...166 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………..173 APPENDICES A. TURKISH SUMMARY/TÜRKÇE ÖZET……………………………….....189 B. TEZ İZİN FORMU………………………………………………………….201 ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This thesis aims to contribute to the field of International Critical Theory by taking theoretical tools of Erich Fromm, a marginalized Frankfurt School intellectual specialized on Marxist sociology and humanist psychoanalysis, in respect to prospects for human and inter-societal solidarity. The thesis is based on the basic research question as to whether Erich Fromm’s psychoanalysis may provide psychological sources for inter-societal solidarity and a political subjectivity, which can communalize multiple sources of human suffering into a general project of emancipation. Consequently, this thesis aims to analyze the psychological obstacles. Solidarity, in this context, is defined as reciprocal to multi-dimensional practices reducing “harm”1, corresponding to the Frankfurt School inspired Andrew Linklater’s usage of the term in IR scholarship; globally with a collective aspiration, zeal and sense of responsibility by the actors in world politics. In other words, it is based on contributing to the thesis of “the 1 Oxford English Dictionary quoted in Andrew Linklater, “Citizenship, Humanity and Cosmopolitan Harm Conventions,” International Political Science Review /Revue internationale de science politique 22, no. 3 (July, 2001): 262. 1 transformation of the political community” and existing set of international practices towards a more inclusive, constructive and difference sensitive manner by focusing on human affection, sentiments and human psyche in general. To put it differently, Erich Fromm’s theoretical framework is utilized with regard to potentials towards overcoming the “limited moral community” within world politics and inter-societal relations, through the agency of human sentiments such as compassion, empathy and responsibility.2 For this purpose, it is claimed that such transformation of the political community requires an emotio-cultural transformation in
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