Dear Colleague,
Why have psychologists failed to enter into the public domain in order to interrogate the sources of political violence? My SEMINAR ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF WAR explores the motives that generate collective forms of destruction and self-destruction.
In our first four sessions, we examined and discussed fundamental principles of political psychology:
* Identification with one's nation.
* The desire to destroy enemies.
* Warfare and the search for national unity.
* Sacrifice and devotion to a sacred ideal.
* Warfare and meaning ("something to kill and die for").
In the second half of our seminar, we turn to an analysis of the current conflict in Iraq, exploring AMERICA'S RETURN TO AN IDEOLOGY OF WARFARE.
We invite you to join us, even if you have not participated in the first four sessions.
The Seminar will occur at the following times. You may attend any or all of these sessions:
Friday, NOVEMBER 9: 6:45 PM
Friday, NOVEMBER 16: 6:45 PM
Friday, NOVEMBER 30: 6:45 PM
Friday, DECEMBER 7: 6:45 PM
Friday, DECEMBER 14: 6:45 PM
Friday, DECEMBER 21: 6:45 PM
There is no charge to attend, but space is limited. To hold your place for any or all of these dates, please send an email to: oanderson@ideologie sofwar.com
Directions to get to Fordham University and instructions on gaining admittance to the lecture appear below. We look forward to meeting you!
With best regards,
Richard Koenigsberg
PART II of Richard Koenigsberg' s
SEMINAR ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF WAR: AMERICA'S RETURN TO AN IDEOLOGY OF WARFARE
American culture in the ten years before September 11 was characterized by an absence of interest in war. U. S. foreign policy was guided by an "aversion to casualties." America hesitated to enter into violent political conflict if there was a possibility that even a few soldiers might be killed.
Foreign policy experts claim that the actions of America's enemies were shaped by this policy of casualty aversion. Bin Laden wrote about how the United States withdrawal from Mogadishu (in 1993) demonstrated clearly that America was "weak and impotent." Perhaps the ferocity of American actions after September 11 represented a response--not only to the fact that the United States had been attacked--but to humiliating statements made by Bin Laden and other Middle-Eastern radicals. The United States would demonstrate in no uncertain terms that she was not weak and impotent.
The Seminar will occur at the following times:
Friday, NOVEMBER 9: 6:45 PM
Friday, NOVEMBER 16: 6:45 PM
Friday, NOVEMBER 30: 6:45 PM
Friday, DECEMBER 7: 6:45 PM
Friday, DECEMBER 14: 6:45 PM
Friday, DECEMBER 21: 6:45 PM
There is no charge to attend, but space is limited. To hold your place for any or all of these dates, please send an email to: oanderson@ideologie sofwar.com
Would Americans be willing to sacrifice the lives of young people in the face of a ten-year policy of casualty aversion? Donald Rumsfeld asserted that the world should not underestimate America's "capacity to suffer casualties." Journalists insisted, "We're not in Mogadishu anymore." President Bush declared that although some doubted the American character, our troops had demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice for freedom and democracy. Never again would the United States "cut and run."
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the American grand narrative of a struggle between the free-world and communism dissipated. The struggle against terrorism replaced the struggle against communism. Once again, the United States would engage in a world-historic conflict to defeat an evil enemy. As Middle-Eastern radicals were killing and dying for Allah, so Americans would sacrifice their lives for freedom and democracy. The current war constitutes a sacrificial competition: who is willing to die the longest?
DETAILS FOR ATTENDING:
TRAVEL INFORMATION: To Reach Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus by Subway. The A, B, C, D, 1, and 9 subway trains all stop at 59th Street/Columbus Circle. 60th Street is one block north of 59th Street. The campus is located one block west on 60th Street at 113 W. 60th Street.
UPON YOUR ARRIVAL AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: At the entrance, simply say you are attending the Seminar in Room 311. Take the escalator to the 1st floor, then the elevator to the third floor. Turn left when you get off the elevator. Room 311 is located near the end of the hallway on the left.
For further information call Orion Anderson at 718-393-1104 or send an email to oanderson@ideologie sofwar.com
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