Call for Papers : Marxism and Psychoanalysis in Central and Eastern Europe, 1920–1991

Contradictions/Kontradikce: A Journal for Critical Thought

Call for Papers for volume 8 (2024)

Marxism and Psychoanalysis in Central and Eastern Europe, 1920–1991

The interaction between Marxism and psychoanalysis has a rich history. Extensive research has documented and reflected on the relationship between psychoanalysis and (originally) German Critical Theory, and between (especially Lacanian) psychoanalysis and French Marxism. Much less attention has been paid, however, to the traces left by the dialogue between these two 20th-century intellectual traditions in Central and Eastern Europe. One of the driving forces behind this intellectual meeting was a perceived insufficiency in Marxist thought, which, although capable of theorizing objective social processes, was seen as lacking an adequate concept of subjectivity. With this in mind, a considerable number of Marxists sought the aid of psychoanalysis. Rather than leading to a smooth fusion of one intellectual tradition with the other, this fragile alliance provoked exceptionally fruitful discussions, confrontations, and polemics that found their way into multiple disciplines – above all philosophy, psychology, and aesthetics. A new volume of Contradictions will be devoted to this complex history, and to the traces and resonances that the Central- and Eastern-European interaction of Marxism and psychoanalysis has left in the present.

We especially welcome submissions on the following themes:

The history psychoanalysis’s reception within Marxism, and vice versa, in this period in the region;

psychoanalysis as a materialist theory of subjectivity;

offering psychoanalysis to the masses – class and the accessibility of psychoanalysis;

objective myths as psycho-social factors that influence the human psyche – psychoanalysis as a materialist theory of ideology and propaganda;

psychoanalysis as a materialist theory of art and the imagination;

the psychoanalytic critique of Marxism – the confrontation of Marxist optimism with Freudian pessimism;

the legality/illegality of psychoanalysis in the Eastern Bloc (psychoanalysis as a bourgeois pseudo-science?).

Submissions can take the form of:

Studies and essays: These may be articles of a more or less traditional academic character, but with an emphasis on the social significance of the material presented and on original and provocative argumentation. But we also welcome more essayistic contributions that break with some of the conventions of scholarly form. We are interested in rigorously theoretical essays, works of high scholarly value but which might not find a place in other scholarly journals. Texts for this volume should be no longer than 8,000 words (including notes and bibliography). Include a list of key words and an abstract of approximately 200–300 words. All studies and essays will be subject to independent, double-blind peer review.

Discussion contributions: polemical texts addressing a theme of particular interest to the journal’s readership. Approximately 2500–5000 words.

Translations and materials: Important contributions to Central/Eastern European social thought that can be brought to international attention in English translation; and previously unpublished or long-unavailable “materials,” accompanied by annotation that presents the materials’ significance to contemporary readers. 3000–10,000 words.

Reviews of recent publications. Reviews may be brief (1000–2500 words) or may constitute longer review essays (2500–7500 words). We especially welcome review essays or bibliographical overviews that present and discuss works relevant to freudo-marxist studies in CEE. Otherwise, we welcome any reviews on topics and issues related to the history and contemporary developments of the radical intellectual traditions and movements in the region. Please contact us beforehand if you are interested in writing a review.

We accept submissions written in English, Czech, or Slovak.

The deadline for articles is November 30, 2023. We ask prospective contributors to submit 300-word (max.) abstracts by September 30, 2023.

Send abstracts and articles to kontradikce@flu.cas.cz. Further guidelines for authors are available here (https://kontradikce.flu.cas.cz/en/guidelines-for-authors).