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9780415526456

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This is a hugely interesting and provocative book that draws effectively on biographical, historical and clinical sources to make a convincing case on the intricate relationship between fascism and masculinity. Building on her previous work on masculinity and on her knowledge of psychopathology from her clinical work, Christina Wieland shows how the fascist state of mind exemplifies a particular solution to the male struggle to avoid being overwhelmed by a phantastic maternal presence that threatens masculinity in times of personal and societal trauma. Hitler's personality and writings are used as examples of this state of mind in an attempt to understand why Hitler was the person in the right place at the right time, how he was just the sufficient mixture of charisma and craziness to overthrow common sense and tip a nation into societal and genocidal madness. - Bob Hinshelwood, Professor in the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex. This is a valuable exploration of the madness at the heart of fascism. It employs psychoanalytic theory to generate new insights into the states of mind underlying totalitarian violence. It shows how a desperate pseudo-masculinity uses hatred and murder to stave off the collapse of selfhood, and adds to the foundations for a psychosocial understanding of contemporary extremisms. - Barry Richards, Professor of Public Communication, The Media School, Bournemouth University.

This is a hugely interesting and provocative book that draws effectively on biographical, historical and clinical sources to make a convincing case on the intricate relationship between fascism and masculinity. Building on her previous work on masculinity and on her knowledge of psychopathology from her clinical work, Christina Wieland shows how the fascist state of mind exemplifies a particular solution to the male struggle to avoid being overwhelmed by a phantastic maternal presence that threatens masculinity in times of personal and societal trauma. Hitler's personality and writings are used as examples of this state of mind in an attempt to undestand why Hitler was the person in the right place at the right time, how he was just the sufficient mixture of charisma and craziness to overthrow common sense and tip a nation into societal and genocidal madness. - Bob Hinshelwood (Professor in the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex).

Author Information

Christina Wieland is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice, a training therapist, teacher and supervisor. She is a visiting Fellow and teaches at the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Essex.

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