41: Large Group Identity and War with Dr Vamik Volkan

In this podcast Dr Vamik Volkan shares his fascinating personal
journey, and some of the theories that have gained him an
international recognition.   Born in 1932, Vamik a Turkish
Cypriot lived in Cyprus under British rule, with the second world
war and Nazi’s in the shadows as he grew up.  His journey
took him to study medicine in Turkey, and psychiatry and
psychoanalysis in the USA.  Experiencing the loss of a dear
friend through a Greek terrorist attack back in Cyprus, Vamik in
the USA found himself separated from mourning his friend. He went
on to study mourning and later trauma, drawing also on his
experiences of racism in the USA during the 1950s/60s.  His
insights led him to work with traumatised countries and
nations/peoples in conflict.  He has met and worked with
former President Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachov, Desmond Tutu
and Yasser Arafat.  Vamik shares some of his key
ideas,  such as how large group identities form around
‘chosen trauma’s’ and ‘chosen glories’ and how these are
mobilised by leaders. Vamik shows how leaders personal
experiences are played out in large group dynamics, and he
addresses what drives Vladimir Putin and reflects on the current
the war Ukraine. 



We will be hosting a Clubhouse Discussion Friday 4th 6pm GMT on
this podcast content click link to join - a recording of the
discussion will be available 






Bio Dr Vamık Volkan is an Emeritus
Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia: Emeritus
President of the International Dialogue Initiative, he holds
Professorships across the world and has many other honorary
positions. 


Dr. Volkan was a member of the International Negotiation Network
under the directorship of former President Jimmy
Carter.  His work on trauma and
understanding large groups is internationally renowned and he has
been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times



Dr. Volkan is the author, coauthor of psychoanalytic and
psychopolitical books. His book, Large-Group psychology: Racism,
Societal Divisions, Narcissistic Leaders and Who We Are Now,
received the Gradiva 2021 Best Book Award.