Social Psychoanalysis of International Relations: Theoretical Basis and Practical Experience

The article explores the potential of social psychoanalysis as an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of international relations. The author argues that under conditions of global transformation, declining trust, and increasing conflict intensity, traditional rational and institutional models of analysis are no longer sufficient. Social psychoanalysis enables the identification of unconscious motivations, archetypal images, collective traumas, and ideological constructs that shape the behavior of actors in international politics. The paper reviews key theorists and approaches, including Freudo- Marxism, Lacanian psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic sociology, as well as contemporary interpretations of trauma, hostile identity, and political leadership. Special attention is given to both international and Russian experiences in applying this approach to practice. A specific example of conflict analysis is presented, including the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict, revealing common archetypes and narratives transmitted through politics, media and collective memory. For the first time, an experiment integrating tools of social psychoanalysis with artificial intelligence is described (GPT models for generating analytical insights). The author demonstrates that AI can be effective at preliminary analysis and modelling, but requires expert interpretation. The article emphasizes the need for developing social psychoanalysis in Russian academic and practical contexts as a method for interpreting and resolving conflicts in international politics.

1. Bartenev V.I. “Rogue States”: Deviant Behavior and the Politics of Stigmatization in Contemporary International Relations. Sociology and Psychology of International Relations and Geopolitics: Materials of the Round Table. Yaroslavl: YarGU [Yaroslavl State University], 2010:5–15 [In Russian].

2. Bekhterev V.M. Selected Works on Social Psychology. Moscow: Nauka [Nauka], 1994. 400 p. [On Russian]. ISBN 5-02-013392.

3. Vdovichenko L.N. Various Approaches to the Typology of Participants in International Relations. Sociology and Psychology of International Relations and Geopolitics: Materials of the Round Table, Yaroslavl: YarGU [Yaroslavl State University], 2010:6–23 [In Russian].

4. Žižek S. Welcome to the Desert of the Real. Translated from English by A.Smirnov. Moscow: Fond «Pragmatika kul’tury» [Pragmatics of Culture Foundation], 2002. 160 p. [In Russian].

5. Žižek S. Violence: Six Sideways Reflexions. Translated from English by A.Smirnova, E.Lyamina. Moscow: Evropa [Europa], 2010. 184 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 978-5-9739-0179-0.

6. Zaitseva E.G. Social Psychoanalysis as a Method for Studying Russian Mentality: Theses ... CandSc (Philosophical): 24.00.01. Moscow, 2006. 153 p. [In Russian].

7. Canetti E. Crowd and Power. Translated from German by N.V.Samsonova. Moscow: Kul’turnaya revolyuciya [Cultural Revolution], 2007. 576 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 978-5-902764-05-3.

8. Karamzin N. Note on Ancient and New Russia in its Political and Civil Relations. Moscow: Nauka [Nauka], 1991. 128 p. [In Russian].

9. Kochetkov V.V. Psychology in International Relations. Sociology and Psychology of International Relations and Geopolitics: Materials of the Round Table. Yaroslavl: YarGU [Yaroslavl State University], 2010:47–59 [In Russian].

10. Krasina, O.V. Role Models of Individual Behavior in the Construction of the Transnational Space of Modern World Politics. Sociology and Psychology of International Relations and Geopolitics: Materials of the Round Table. Yaroslavl: YarGU [Yaroslavl State University], 2010:70–81 [In Russian].

11. Lacan J. Seminars. Book 11. Four Basic Concepts of Psychoanalysis. Translated from French by A.Chernoglazov. Moscow: Gnozis; Logos [Gnosis; Logos], 2004. 304 p. [In Russian].

12. Lebon G. Psychology of Peoples and Masses. Translated from French. St.Petersburg: Piter [Peter], 2002. 224 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 5-318-00218-1.

13. Leger S. Psychoanalysis and Mass Culture in Scull E. (ed.) Cultural Sociology of Mental Illness: A to Z Handbook. Moscow: Akademicheskij proekt [Academic Project], 2014 [In Russian].

14. Marcuse G. Eros and Civilization: a Philosophical Inquiry into Freud (Beacon Classics). Translated by A. Yudin. Moscow: AST [AST], 2003. 528 p. [In English]. ISBN 5-17-011041-3.

15. Obolonsky A.V. Geopolitics as a Dangerous Pathology of Political Consciousness. Politicheskaya konceptologiya: zhurnal metadisciplinarnyh issledovanij [The Political Conceptology: Metadisciplinary Research Journal]. 2024; 1:22–55 [In Russian]. Available from: https://publications.hse.ru/en/articles/297759637.

16. Obolonsky A.V. Ethnopolitical Conflicts in Transit Time as Moral and Psychological Phenomenon (Attemptsat Diagnosisand Treatment). Politicheskayakonceptologiya: zhurnalmetadisciplinarnyh issledovanij [The Political Conceptology: Metadisciplinary Research Journal]. 2023; 3:151–163 [In Russian].

17. Parsons T. On the Construction of a Theory of Social Systems (Intellectual Autobiography) in T.Parsons, R.F. Bales, E.A.Shils. Family, Socialization and Interaction Process. Moscow: Nauka / GU VShE [Science – HSE], 1998:207–268 [In Russian].

18. Reich V. Psychology of the Masses and Fascism. Translated from German by Yu.M.Donets. Moscow: AST [AST], 2004. 539 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 5-17-025448-2.

19. Said E.V. Culture and Imperialism. Translated from English. Moscow: Akademicheskij proekt [Academic Project], 2002. 560 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 5-8291-0924-1.

20. Smirnova A.G. Mechanisms of Intergroup Perception and Threat Cognition in International Relations (Using the North Korean Nuclear Program as an Example). Sociology and Psychology of International Relations and Geopolitics: Materials of the Round Table. Yaroslavl: YarGU [Yaroslavl State University], 2010:96–100 [In Russian].

21. Ternovaya L.O. Psychology of Reversion in International Relations. Sociology and Psychology of International Relations and Geopolitics: Materials of the Round Table. Yaroslavl: YarGU [Yaroslavl State University], 2010:101–109 [In Russian].

22. Fanon F. The Wretched of the Earth. Translated from French. Moscow: LKI [LKI], 2006 [In Russian].

23. Fanon F. Black Skin, White Masks. Translated from French. Moscow: Progress [Progress], 1990 [In Russian].

24. Fedorkina A.P. Social Psychoanalysis as a Methodology of Cognition of a Human Being in Contemporary World. Akmeologiya [Acmeology]. 2017; 2:62–65 [In Russian].

25. Freud S. Mass Psychology and the Analysis of Ego in Ego and Id: The Future of Illusion. Translated from German. Moscow: AST, Astrel’ [AST, Astrel], 2009:171–238 [In Russian]. ISBN 978-5-17-057928-0.

26. Fromm E. The Sane Society. Translated by S.V.Karpushina and T.V.Banketova, Moscow: AST, Astrel’ [AST, Astrel], 2011. 448 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 978-5-17-071975-4 and 9785271382079.

27. Khrenov N.A. Towards a Psychological Interpretation of the Prehistory, History and Posthistory of Revolutionary Consciousness in Russia: How do ‘Gods’ Emerge in a Profane Society? Politicheskaya Konceptologiya [Political Conceptology], 2023; 3:79–104 [In Russian].

28. Hübl T., Avritt J.J. Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds (Paperback). Translated from English. Moscow: Kogito-Centr [Cogito-Center], 2022. 342 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 978-5-906956-45-0.

29. Tsygankov A.P., Tsygankov P.A. Sociology of International Relations: Analysis of Russian and Western Theories. Moscow: Aspect Press [Aspect Press], 2008. 236 p. [In Russian]. ISBN 978-5-7567- 0408-2.

30. Tsygankov P.A. Sociological Concepts and Approaches in Analysis of International Relations. Vestnik MGU. Seriya 12. Politicheskie Nauki. [Moscow State University Bulletin. Series 12. Political Sciences], 2016; 4:28–37 [In Russian].

31. Erikson E.Kh. Childhood and Society. Translated from English; Scientific Editor A.A.Alekseev. St. Petersburg: Letnij sad [Summer Garden], 2000 [In Russian].

32. Erikson E.Kh. Identity: Youth and Crisis. Translated from English; General Editor A.V.Tolstykh. Moscow: Progress [Progress], 1996 [In Russian].

33. Jung K.G. Archetype and Symbol. Translated from German. Moscow: Renessans [Renessans], 1991. 304 p. [In Russian].

34. Althusser L. Idéologie et appareils idéologiques d’État (Notes pour une recherche). La Pensée [The Thought], 1970; 68:3–40 [In French].

35. Althusser L. Pour Marx. Éd. François Maspero. Paris: François Maspero, 1965. 272 p. [In French].

36. Bar-On D. The Others Within Us: Constructing Jewish-Israeli Identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 236 p. [In English]. ISBN 978-0-521-70828-9.

37. Brunner M., Burgermeister N., Lohl J., Schwitring M., Winter S. Kritische psychoanalytische Sozialpsychologie in den deutschsprachigen Ländern. Transcript, 2013. 278 p. [In German].

38. Campbell D. Writing Security: United States Foreign Policy and the Politics of Identity. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1992. 269 p. [In English]. ISBN 0816622213.

39. Dietrich W. Variationen über die vielen Frieden. Band 1: Deutungen. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag; 2008 [In German].

40. Edkins J. Poststructuralism and International Relations. London: Routledge, 2007 [In English].

41. Edkins J. Trauma and the Memory of Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 265 p. [In English].

42. Fenichel O. Psychoanalysis as the Nucleus of a Future Dialectical-Materialistic Psychology. American Imago. 1967; 24(4):290–311 [In English].

43. Gobodo-Madikizela P. A Human Being Died That Night: A South African Story of Forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003. 197 p. [In English].

44. Reich W. Dialektischer Materialismus und Psychoanalyse. Sex-Pol. Essays 1929–1934. New York: Vintage Books, 1972:65–69 [In German].

45. Russell D. Psychoanalytic Sociology: A New Theory of Social Ties. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2024. 312 p. [In English].

46. Tsygankov A.P., Tsygankov P.A. A Sociology of Dependence in International Relations Theory: A Case of Russian Liberal IR. International Political Sociology. 2007; 1(4):307–324 [In English].

47. Twaits T. Reading Freud: Psychoanalysis as Cultural Theory. London: Arnold, 2007. 256 p. [In English].