Ethnicity and Nationalism: A Psychoanalytic Perspective
Author(s)
Volkan, Vamik D.
Abstract
Although ethnicity cannot be seen, its presence is palpable, and one would think it would be something rather easy to describe. Arabs and Israelis or Armenians and Azerbajanis, for example, so adamantly insist on being different that it should not be difficult to isolate the reasons. Yet it is impossible to find 1 single description of ethnicity that is acceptable by most scholars. The term ethnicity, and other large-group identities such as religious or nationalistic affiliations, change in scope and substance according to the discipline studying it. This paper focuses on the meanings of large-group processes. Large-group psychology is examined from 2 perspectives. The 1st concerns the historical and biological evolution of large groups, be they called clans, tribes, or other names. The 2nd relates to childhood development. The 2 perspectives intersect in the leader-follower relationship to form the human need to have enemies (“bad” others) and allies (“good” others).
